iidoi . 



A i-lfty In 'our 
■"oiinded on the "iioo]r of i'sUht'r 



PS 3535 
. (\ 44.3 tAG 



©JI.D 4 4 189 
UN 19 1916 ■' 



i 

<f 

J- 



Porsiane. 
.hnaueruB ♦ .Tho II. • 

■' r.-)iiandatha ...*.... «..•.,.** .,Ul8 Soj^ • 

C>^,ra?iann, aii old mftii) 

Shrttar ) 

Abm>Hth« ) 

/ i?nnoan }-.——» — . — ............prlncea* 

■ 3h ) 

■ ;} ) 

no^til •••*•. * ?lie ohloT JUuiuolu 

The ■■'■inj"'*3 chniriborlaiii 
The ;ueon'tj ohariberlain 
An '^rflcer 
A Soribo 

.- ■■■ -''.r-Ta. 

^.. •••••••.....•. .«•..• ...........i-i. ,t\i\ ' H v/i JL e ♦ 

) — Tj.'idlo8 oi^ tlw Hnrera* 

> I 

:1 ) 

oroan ) 
Priiioea, tr-uloamon, nanuohs» ,T«nrd9, ror^il'^'CQ* 



Abi'tihiAJM 

Sine on 

Ashor 

.Iblriolooh 

P.euben 

Jacob 

•;l,-v'1.nr: 



uocoa « Har i4;ild • 



Alt?iotsgjh the c^Kt Ifs mpftrcntli'- a lOif,-:' ono, 
all the Princes In Act t onu donblo .'IM. .'."<:• J.v. ii 

In Acts TT fv.ul TTT, 



ACT I. 



Ahaau. 

Officer 
All 

Ahasu. 
Memucan 

Carshana 
Memucan 

All 

Carshana 
Memucan 
She tar 
Atomatha 

Tarish 



ir.res 



SCEiJi;: The Banquet ting Hall in the Palace of Shushan. 
Ahasuerus, the Y.-ii\r,^ is sitting on a throne wiiioh is on 
a dais at the hend of the table. By his rij^ht hand is 
another throne-chair in which no one sits. 
Behind him stands a Scribo with tablets and a stilus. 
At tables stretching over tae staj^e are seated the 
Princes, all of whon are discovered at the rising of 
the curtain which i^^oea up amid a babel of laughter, fol- 
lowing a trumpet blast. 

A kneeling cupbearer presents a goblet to Ahasuerus 
who rises and taVes it. 

(folding U; goblet) Let each man flrinl' according to 
his will. No one is compelled. (Hf^.iaos goblet/ He 
drinl's) 

The King drinVs. (Blare of trumpets) 

The King drinJ-s. (They all drin>. The Teller and 
Scribe prostrate therisolves as do tho slaves and 
courtiers. Ahasuerus sits down) 

Be seated. (They all sit) 

By Mithra, but the v/ine is good. There is only one 
thing better in Persia, a v/oman's Mas. 

That's poisoned wine which the wise refuse to drinlr. 

That wisdom comes only with gray hairs. I than] Mithra 
my hair is still blacl-. Youth'. ?irst in the field. 
First in the race. First in a woman's arms. A new 
cup for a new toast'. I drinl- to youth jmd folly'. 

To youth and folly'. 

To wisdom and three score years and ten'. 

To the wisdom and folly of the world I To woimnl 

To the pearl of women'. 

(Starts up) That's my wife'. Her cheeVs are as the 
lilies bathed in the morning dew. Her eyes are as the 
fishpools which hold the noonday sur. . 

(starts up) Who talVs of wives in the preae/ice of 
Tarish, Prince of Persia? As the grape bn£ore it is 
trodden is to the wiiie which gladdeneta the heart of 
man, so are the wives of all the Princes compared to my 
wife. Her hair is ^.a a net of fine spun gold. Her 
breasts are as twin towers made of ivory. Her breath 
is as the incense.... 

(starts upi The beauty that can be inventoried with 
words is but the blowing of tho wind in the trees. I 
drin> to the beauty that no words can tell . i>;y wife 
the Queen of Woman. " * 



19 1916 



£. 



All 
Ah'-'SU. 



Shatar 

All 
Alias u. 



( Hise J iviine « iv.ine . idne . 

(Hises) ieaoel In all the hundred and twenty-seven 
provinces that ma>e up my land, there is but one Queen 
of Women. A new cup for a new toast'. Vashti, the 
Queen of Ahasueras.' 3-^ide of the Sunl 



Officer The King drinVs. 
All The 7 ins drinrs. 



Thou art the snn, Ahasuerus, and I hut one of the seven 
stars that stand iiroujid the throne. 3ut I repeat my 
toast. My wife, the Queen of Women'. 

Mine '. Mine '. Mine '. 

reacei As Aliasuerus Is above all men, so is Vashti 
above all wonen. For one hundred and four score days 
have I not feasted you In Shushan, the Palace? You 
have seen my horses and my chariots, my vessels of 
.'•old and sliver. You have beheld my palacevS made of 
stone, my gardens with cedar trej^s from Lebanon. You 
have beheld my people paying tribute fron; every prov- 
ince of my land. For a hundred and four score days you 
have beheld the glories of Ahasuerus, the King, but all 
these are as the night before the day: compared with 
the groatost of thor:^ all - the beauty of the Babylonian 
I have tal'en to wife; the glory of Yashtl, the Queen. 

Memucan All these things we have beheld, Ahasuerus, but ve have 
not beheld the Queen. 

Ahasu . By illthra, that you shall. Bid the charriberlalns 

approach. 

Officer The King calls for the Chamberlains. 

(They approach) 

Ahasu. Go, bid the Queen come to the Banquetting Hall, th^t 
the Princes may gaze upon her beauty and go blind . 

Chai-^ib . May the King live for over. If thj^ servants tale this 
com ^and to the Queen, they shall be scourged with 
rods. 

Ahasu. (Gives a ring) i\j ring will save your bacl^s. Say to 
Queen Vashti, "Arise from thy royal throne, put the 
crovn upon thy head, ta^e a golden cup In thy right 
hand and another In thy left and thus appear before 
me and the one hundred and tventy-seven crowned Prin- 
ces that they may Vnow thou art the fairest upon earth.' 

Garshana The word of Ahasuerus Is better than the deed of 
another man. 'iVe v/lll believe without proof. 

Ahasu. The King has spolen. Go. 

(Exeunt Ch;;i. iier.i.;ii.:a j 



3. 



Ahasu. (To Princes) Be seated. 

(They sit) 

Teller (Off) Thy trihute is told in fall, Shimshi, son of 
Shimra, depart in i^ence. 

Ahasu. Bid the tellers of tribute rlo]mrt. 

Officer i»lay the Y.irg live for ever. The day's tri -ute is 
not 3''et told in full. 

Ahaau. riow many does it lac]^? 

Officc^r One, Mordecai, the Jew, the richest tribute of them 
all. 

Haman (Aside) Mordecai, the Jew, the man I hate. 

Ahasu. Whore is the Jew? 

Officer May the Finf live for ever. He stands without. 

Ahasu. Then bid him stand within. 

Officer Approach. 

(EJTfJR .lORDECAI) 

Mordecai Onto Ahasuerus, the King, peace. 

Ahasu. Who is this man? 

Haman May the 7ing live for ever. A Dog of a Jew. His 
tribute must be vatched. 

Ahasu. He has the bearing of a Prince. 

Shatar He v/ears a jev/el worth;; of a King. 

Officer Let Mordecai, the son of Jair, depart. 

Haman Hold. Is the tribute told in i n.ll? 

Officer The tribute of Mordecai, son of Jair, is nover told. 

Haman Slave, would you che-^t the treasury of the King? Why 
is his tribute never told? 

Officer Tithin the citj' gates it is a proverb that the vord 
of Mordecai is better than the oath of another. 

Haman The tribute shall be told. Stand by, 

Ahasu. (Holds out sceptre) Bid the Jew appro-^.ch. 

Haman May the 7ing live for ever. The people say in the 
streets that the Jews have the Evil Eye. 



4. 



Ahasu. 

Haman 

Mordeeai 

Ahasu. 

Mordeeai 

Ahasu . 

Mordeeai 

Ahasu. 

Mordeeai 

Ahasu. 

Mordeeai 

Ahasu. 

Mordeeai 

Teller 

Mordeeai 
Ahasu. 

Mordeeai 

A hasu. 
Mordeeai 

Haman 
Ahasu. 

Haman 
Ahasu. 



The King has spoken. 

(Contemptuously i Stand before the King. 

Unto Ahasuerus, th'e King, peace. 

That jewel on thy finger, - what is its price? 

It is without price, oh King. 

To whom does it belong? 

(Presenting it) To thee. 

By Mithra, a King's gift given li>e a "^ing. A new cap 
set with jewels. (Touches it with his lips) The 
wine is royal; the cup is thine. (Gives it to Cha-nb- 
erlain who takes it to Mordeeai) 

Unto the King health; but I may not drink. 

Does the Jev; refuse to drin] with the King? 

A Jev/ may not eat or drinl' with any but a Jew. 

By Mithra, is that the custom of your tribe? 

It is the com; landment of our God. 

(Off) The tribute of Mordeeai, the son of Jair, is 
told in full . 

Have I the King's leave to depart? 

Depart? All men beg favor to remain in the presence 
of the King. 



It is the fassover of my tribe, - if I beg f'tvor to 
withdraw fron the presence ol the King it is that I 
may go to make ready to stand in the presence of the 
King of Kings . 

Thou art a strange nan. Depart in peace. 

Unto Ahasuorus, the King, peace. 

(EXIT IIORDECAI) 

A dangerous man, oh King. 

(To man with tablets behind the t/irone) He likes mo 
v/ell . Let the memory of the King reniember .e the name 
of Mordeeai, the Jew. 

(Bangs dovm the goblet) 

What ails thee? Why is thy count enaee so overcast, 
thy eyes so wild? VHiy dost thou gaize with such fury 
upon the ring? 'Tis thine. (He holds it out to him) 



5. 



Haman May the King live for ever. Shall the King's servant 

wear the jev/els of the man who refuses to honor the King? 

Ahasu. What of thnt? The Jew but followed the oomniandrr.ent 
of his God . 

Haman There is no God hifjher than the King. 

Ahasa. Thou art a fsiithful friend; it lil es me well. And 

now, as I listen to thee, it comes to me that I have 
had it in my mind to do thee honor these many days. 
Behold the seat at my right hand ia empty; cotrie thou 
and fill it. It is thine. 

Hbrnan May the King live for over - I am hut Hanan, son of Ha- 
medata. That seat is only for ■•'. Prince. 

Ahasu. The King has spoken. Tale thy place. (iJurmur of 
dissent) If there be any hore who murmur w?ien the 
King has spolen, he shall die. Behold the inan whom 
the King delights to honor. Bend the ^ nee to Haman, 
son of Hariodata, even as unto Ahasuoras, the mighty 
King of Kin^-3, the King of this great and nighty 
earth. The King drinls to Haman. (He drini:s) 



Cupbearer The King drinrs 
the I'inee ) 



(Blare of triv^ jets. They all bend 



Ahasu. (To Haman) Be seated. 

(The Princes all T-neel) 

Ahasu. So do I love to see thefo, these proud Princes, tremb- 
ling in the dust. So is it throughout all Shushan. 
When the King says cone, they come. When the King says 
go, they go. vihen the King says live, they live, and' 
when the King says die, they die. There is no \¥ill in 
all Shushan but the will of Ahasuerus, and there is no 
God in all Persia higher than the King. Rise, Princes. 
You may ta>e your seats. 

(They rise from their I'nees and sit) 

(KWTER the SKVE.f CHAi JiER^^AIJiS ) 

Ahasu. There is a saying in Persia a good father first caas- 

tises, then revrards his sons. I am your father, ye are 
my sons. I have rebul ed your pride, nov will I give 
you your re ard. Tremble, oh Pri.ices, for the greatest 
hour of your lives is at hand. Let the Queen cor^e inl 
(Holds out golden sceyitre ) Why does she tarry? The 
King has s oVen; she hfi3 naught to fear. 

Charnb I (In consternation) i.^ay the King live for ever. Be- 
hold thy servants ere as the dust beneath thy feet. 
(They do homage) The Queen is not without. 



Ahasu. 



Where is the Queen? 



e. 

Ohatib I May the Zing live i'or ever, the Queeji is in her house. 

Ahasu. The Queen is in h^r house whon slie wns commanded to 
stand before the King. Let the Exeoutiojiers stand 
forth. The Queen shall die. 

Haman Perchance the Queen is sicl'? 

Carshana i-'erchance the Queen is dead? 

Ahasu. If the Queen v/ers sic!', my message shovld hnve cured 

her. If the Queen were dead, her dust should have re- 
turned to life and hor spirit returned from the grave 
to st^nd before the King. (Changes entirely) Yet, she 
is beautiful and for the sake of that beauty, I will 
with-hold my hand. Speak, Slaves, what said the Queen? 

Chamb I ( The^- bow to the ground ) If we repeat the saying of 
the Queen, ve shall die. 

Ahasu. Spea] and live, (.-iolds out sceptre) 

Chamb I May the King live for ever. The Queen said, "Go, tell 
the King, I am tlie jieen Vashti, the daughter of Eveel 
Marodach and grand daughter of Ilobuchadnezzar, the 
King. Kver since I was born no man has beheld my 
face save only Ahasuerus, and I refuse to come and un- 
veil my beauty in the presence of the Princes and the 
King. (Consternation among Princes. The King takes the 
goblet of wine and flings wine on the floor) 

Ahasu. So shall her blood be spilled upon the ground. The 

King has spoken i by the law of the Medea and Persians 
which alter not. Go, slaves, and bid the Queenf pre- 
pare to die. 

(::X?:iT"'7 CH.U.BER'AI S, then SOT.illiiRS 
and PP.IKSTS. Then two EXIICUTIOT.-rs 
are going) 

Ahasu. Hold. Is there not one of you who has a v7ord to say? 
;ehold the Queen is beautiful: she is a woman and 
passing fair. Is there not one of you who has a v/ord 
to say? Behold the Queen is royal like to yourselves 
and she is to die the death of a base born slave. Is 
there not one of you who has a word to say? Behold the 
Queen is young in years. Ye have wives and children 
of your own, is there not one of you who has a word 
to say? (To one of the Princes) When your son died, 
the Queen strored his body with fresh horbs and wept* 
upon his corpse . Have you not a tear to shed? ( To 
Carshana) When your life hung Ia the balance 'the 
Queen pleaded for you on her inees, yet you sit in your 
chair at your ease as if you were stricl-en dumb. By 
Mithra, she h-s well spoken, ". hy should she unveil her 
beauty before you?" By Mithra she is fit mate for a 
King. 



7. 

Mem. May the King live -i.or ever. I have a word to say. I 

am the younarest in the Coimcil and by the law of the 
iiedes and Persiaiis have thfi first ri2:ht to spealc. 



Ahasu. Spea> . 

Ivlem. Vaahti, the Queen, has not done wrong to the King only, 
but also to all the Princes and to ail the people that 
are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus. For 
this deed of the Queen shall come abroad unto all 
women, so that they shall despise their husbands in 
their eyes, v/heii it shall be reportodiji the King Ahasu- 
erus com :anded Vashti, the Queen, to be brought in before 
him, but she came not. Likewise shall the ladies of 
Persia and iu^dia say this day unto the Kinfr's Princes, 
which have he' rd of the deed of the "ueen. Thus shall 
there arise too much contempt and wrath. If it please 
the King, lot there go a Roj'^al oommandr.Gnt from him 
and let it be v/ritten arong the laws of the Persians 
and the I.'edes that it be not altered that Vashti come 
no more before the King Ahasuerus and let the King give 
her royal estate unto another that is better than she. 
And when the King's decree which he shall make shall be 
published throughout all his Empire (for it is great) 
all the wives shall give to their husbands honor both 
to great and small. I have spoTen; now speak ye. 

All (Rise; It is well spo>en, Memucan, thy words are ours. 

Ahasu. And thou, Ilaman, son of Hamedata, what hast thou to 
say? 

Haman (Kneels) way the King live for ever. I am but the 
dust before the King. What the King wills, I will. 
What the Klnr: says, I say. r.et the'Queen live or die 
as the King chooseth for there is no law in Shushan, 
but the law of Ah*.>suerus, and no God throughout Persia 
higher than the King. 

Ahasu. Thou art a faithful slave. Take thy place. Let the 

King's meraory re^iei'iber me that wnen the Princes contend- 
ed with me in Council, Haman spoT e as a Prince should 
speak uiito the King. For the wci^-'.s of Memucan, do thou 
answer for me, Ha!';an. Thou art my voice. 

Haman May the King live for ever; the words of ilemucan are 
good words, for according to his sayicg so shall the 
husbands in Persia have honour, and the Queen of Ahas- 
uerus shall not die . 

Ahasu. It likes me well. Let there be letters written unto 

all the King's provinces to every i^rovince according to 
the writing taoref^, and to every people after their 
language that every man rule in his house, and let it 

be published according to the language of overy people 
from India to Ktniopia over the hundred and seven and 
twenty provinces which make up the Kingdom of Ahasuerus 
the King. (Scribes bow. King sits) Behold how I 



8. 

love ye, oh my people, that for the sr-Ve of the uouour 
of the husbands in Persia, I sacrifice ray riaeen. Yet 
she is beftutiful and t)ie light of the sun shall he 
quenched for Ahasuorua if the Queen stands no more in 
the presence of the King. 

Mem. iviay the King live for ever, there are other women in 
Persia whose beauty may compare with the beauty of 
Vashti, the Babi'^lonian. I am the youngest in the 
Council, and I have spol en . Is it the King's will 
that I speaT- a aecond time? 

Ahasu. Speal^. 

Mem. iiay the YiuQ live for over. Let there be fair young 
virgins sought for the King, and let the Zing a.,'point 
officers in all the provinces of the Kingdom that they 
may gather together all the fair young virgins imto 
Shushan, the Palaco, and let the maiden who pleaseth 
the King be Queen instead of Vashti . 

Ahasu. It likes me well, Haman, son of Hamedata, see that 
this thing be done . 

Mem. A new crp for a new toast. I drinl to Ahasuerus, the 
King . 

Ahasu. The King drinks. 

Cupbearer The King drinks. 

All To Ahasuerus, the King'. 



TABLEAU CUHTABTS. 



ACT 1. SCJ'iHF. 2. 

SCEME: A Room in Mordecai's House. 
The table is spre-^d for the Passover i^^'east. 
There are several places laid, with cups for vine 
and the one at the head is of clS'SS . 
At the head of the table is "placed a tray covered 
with a white cloth. On the tray are three unlo'svened 
ea>es, the shanV bone of a lamb, a roasted eg^:, some 
little cp>es of brown material and a stiol'- of horse 
radish with a little cup bv the side. 
There is a seven branched candlestick with candles 
on the tablo . 

The vriiole aspect of the roon is one of joyous festiv- 
ity in the hona of a v/elthy nan. 

(.'v"rTi-,R ESTHER followed by REBECCA with 
a bottle of wine) 



ESTHER oet down the wine. No, here. See, a spot uj^on my 

uncle's .^Inas. Oo, thoa, Rebecca, quicMy and "bring a 
cloth; one of ny mother's of Ejj'-ptian silk. I will 
lif>ht the lamps. 

(EXIT REBECCA) 

(Does an and hums) "Cone my 3elox''ed to ini?et the Bride. 
The presence of the Sabbath let us receive." (Shouts 
off. She starts) Shoutiriv^ and trumpets at this hour. 
That means the end of the last day's feast. To-morrow 
the Princes will go home . Ah, how I should like to see 
them. Rebecca says they are dressed in nothinj^ but 
jewels and cloth of ^old . (She goes to window) 

(ENTER REBECCA) 

Rebecca Here is the. cloth. (Touches h?r) Hadassahl Hadassahl 

Esther How you startled ne, Rebecca. 

Rebecca Dreaming as usual? 

Esther [ was thinking v/hat it must be like to wear cloth of 
golc' and jewels cnd^ live in a PaD'^-e like a Queen. 

Rebecca The ...ueen is not so happy as thou, I warrant. 

Esther IVhy, the- Queen has everythliig; a palace to li"ve in, 

a bed of ivory to sleep in, groves of ced'^r from Leb- 
anon to vmll in, a chair of gold to sit in. (Glass 
breaks) Ah, my uncle's glass. I have broken it. It 
is an evil omen, Rebecca. 

Rebecca Behsi rnon tob. It is a good omen. It means the break- 
ing of your marriage glass. Listen, the shouting and 
the trumpets. 

Esther Oh, why does my uncle tarry? If he should bo caught 
by some riotous feasters and get hurt. Ah his step. 
(Runs to door) 



2. 



(ENTER iJORDECAI) 

Mordecal ieace be tuito theff, my child, and {To Robecca) onto 
thee. (To Kstheri Why art thou pale and trefbling? 
V'hat is anies? 

Esther I was afraid because thru v/ert gone so long, ai.d, do 
not be angered with me, uncle, - I have brol en thy 
Egyptian f^lasa . 

Mordecai ily glass. 'lis v^rell t'v/as thou. >Vnj% what a tirdd 
heart it is - Thou art t]iy mother's child, Hadassah; 
a gentle creature full of sl;'^':hs and fears. In the 
little things of life a frifThtaned ciild, but in the 
great moments of dagger, strong as a man. 

Esther I fear me, Jncle, there is but little strengtri in me. 

Mordecai Streugt'i eoiies froi;: God, my child. ri.e gives it to 
the voaleat in His own appointed tine. But come, 
forget the gl^ss, my flower, and in its place set me 
a cup of gold . 

Esther 'Hhou art so good. (Kiss his hand) So good; may you. 

not find me lacPing in gratitude and obedience if ever 
the daj' should corie when thou dost call upon me to 
repay in some part all thou hast done for me . 

Mordecal (Hand on her head) Lly myrtle blossom. 

Esther Come and looJi . Have I re/;iembored ever.Ytnii-ig? The 
three unleavened ca>es, tlie shanl bone' of the lai'ib, 
the ro. sted o^g, the bitter herbs. 

Mordecai The liixed charosct wiiich we eat to remind us our an- 
cestors 7'orled V. ith mortar in the land of Pharoah. 
Ah, Hadassah, would that they had dwelt as we dwell, 
under the rule of a Just and benevolent King. 

Esther Oh, uncle; the King, didst thou see him? 

Mordecai Aye, and spol-e to him not an hour ago. 

Esther Thou? 

Llordecai Aye, and could have drunJ- with hin, had I not refused. 

Esther Thou couldst have drunl with the King and didst re- 
fuse? 

Llordeoai Shall a Jew drinl with an infidell But in good truth, 
it ill becomes me to spea> liVe this, for Ahasuerus, 
could .ot have snoT^^en me fairer had I been xlebuchad- 
nezzar, the Flng. 

Esther Wh^^t said he? Where did he sit? dow did he look? 
Whp.t did he v;ear? 

Liordecai (Amused) He sat in a chair, he vore a robe, he looked 
very liVe any other man. 



3. 



Esther 
Hebecca 

Horde cai 



Esther 

Mordecai 

Esther 

Mordecai 

Esther 
Liordecal 

Esther 
Mordecai 

Esther 
Mordecai 



Thou dost mocl^ me, luicle. 

Tlie child is King err. zed, master; she tnl"; s of nothing 
but Princes and jevels and cloth of gold. 

Thou foolish one; srch things mal-e not for hap]Jiness. 
In the Palace of Shushan there is much fe sting, much 
drinling, much shouting, much revelling, but there is 
one thing in this little room v/hich is not in the 
Palace of Shushan, peace. As I sit here, with thee by 
my side, I v/ould not change place with Ahasuerus on 
his throne. 



(Notices ring off fingorj 



(Kisses hand) Dear uncle. 
Ty'h.ere is tlv ring? 

I gnve it to the Ting, 

Did ho as> it? 



Kings do not as?% Child, they comrrand; but Ahasuerus 
nsither nsTed nor comiManded; he ^»:ould have bought it 
had I iiot refused to nai:e its price. 

Why didst thou refi se? 

.. Jew dops not sell the tl'iing he loves, Hadassah; 

he with-holds it or he gives it, like a King. Strange, 

my finger feels nuite chill without its accustomed 

toy. 

Perchance son.e day, ray uncle, the King reme'iibering thy 
gift, will give thee another ring to ta>e its place. 

Kings do not remariber, child, they are lile cliildren; 
they cr-ve a toy, they seize it, they break it, they 
forget it. It is c".st aside and another takes its 
place. 

O- 

It must be vontSerfi'l to ueA.Flng. 

It is more wonderful to be a Jew, one of the chosen of 
Jehovah who shall be Kings in Heaven in His own appoint- 
ed tine. And yet - thou dost say true, it must be 
wonderful to be >ji. King, to wield the pover of Life and 
Death, to hold th;-> faith of nations in one's hands; 
with a breath to s^7eep away a people, and with a smile 
to restore them to t/u^ir place, ilnd y-^t, my Hadassah, 
tliis godlike Aliasuorus, for all his grentncss, is but 
a nan. I hold not with these Persians over much, but 
to-day, r-s V;e Si)c] e together, this Ahasuerus liked me 
veil; - was it his smile, a glance of the eye, a trick 
of the voice, who si-all say, - but methought, I could 
have found a ^nan to love and honor beneath the purple 
of the King. Dreams. Dreams. Thou dost catch thy 
trici' of dreaming from thy 'Jxicle, Hadassah. I chide 
thee for e. faili/ig that I shero . 



Rebecca Master, it ite time to say thtj hiessing. 



4« 

MordftOftl Thou aoat seo, mv ii/rtl« blonaofn. In talMiVT ^'^ KlngB 
and Kln^dons X hnd nlmoHt forffot tho hotir. Coi)e» 






Beniajnln 



i'ortc** bo unto thoe. 
■ • /via. 



an, A inoPient la- 
1 fl. 



«n\f\2r p^»rdcr:, ''Ot t}irt «tr'*<»'«^B »^r« thrnrxc^^d vith the 

. i/j'B Aha»«oru9 

, /or I oonld 

JiOM.r oo!ifjir.» lot rifl taVe thy oloal'. • 

Ah» Lily or Shushaxi, thon ao«t fjrow falror over/ da;/. 

(Hand on her h«ftd) H^<\?^asnh, ve will «?ait no longor. 
h'^toh t;rlP boo'' • 



13011 iariin 

i.ordeoai 

Senja-iin 

; ordooai 



?hO O'iijd 13 > b;^cl to liiTo; tho 80U,.a 

o_ her vr^loo ap-^xin. v^hr-.t iff t'n; viaio;., 

clre.'urior? Art tnos, tui./. 3.iif' of the di\y whisn th;- ilrd*Ii 
Xly into a?;oth'>r o^'.f^? 

Nay, Benjft'iiit, i.hf\t It* a day t j' t^liloh X jtt'»v*^r dar© 
to tiiinV • 



Thon rhnt ort thou thif.'- • <i.- oi.'? 
na iX ovor.v Jow in ShiiaiiUii woro 8 
sevon plnpnoa. Tu? t is nnlas? 



80 aad 



I 'mm not; yat I cam.oi roat. T'le child la well, 

our trnfrio pJi'OBp^^ra, tho tribute'^ toT''» to 1 \r 

h;A3 Sj'o!-o p;o frtir, :*c>t tK-ano • ■ 

£ nooV nt mysolf for t'rif^ f'>«li 

,j^h08t . J'^one i"i;endi\f < 

Tho child l8 rmll, a.iii 

hoftrt tur.is sio^' with fear. X iinu a lireiwu* auah ah© 

«on<?3l 



d. 

rrow. 



i-oiir out the wlnr>. 



Ashor 


A oaoo « 




11 


: "»'>C0« 




/iShor 


V,-i' 


• Hi ojI 




<50'i 


It In 



, ;iext yoivr nay wo 
\h. 



5. 

(E;!Ti;H AB-RAAA.. excitedly) 

Mordeoal (TaVes his CU; of wine in one hand, the bool-' in the 
otjier HAd 8ini:s ) i3arooch Ahtah - Ah - 

Abr^Jiarn l.ordocHi, 3enjariin, Asher. (I^ordecai froes on siiiC-Lng) 
ilordecai « 

Mordecai Who dares to interrupt the blesaing: of the Lord? 

Abraham There are ovil tidings. 

Mordecai Kvil tidings must vait wliile ve finish the blessing 
of tiie Lord. 

Abraham The olessing of the Lord must vait while you hear the 
ovil tidings, (....ordeeai goes on singiJig) 

Mordecai Barocch Ahtah - Ah, Ad 

Abraham If thou wilt not listen for tJiyself, then listen for 
thy child . 

Mordecai Tho child. (Drops bool' on table) Speak. 

Abraham The feast is interrupted, the Finp: is angered, Vaahti 
is deposed. 

All (Oatherina' round excitedljO Yashti is depoBed? 

iuordeeai Tno-t have T'iri^s and Qaeons to do with us or with the 
safety of this child? 

Abraham a pruclanation /xaa boon Issued taat all the fjiir young 
virgins in Shushan shall be gathered unto the Palace 
that the King roay choose a succeasor unto V?^shti, the 
Queen. 

luordeoai This concerns us not; ire are not fersians; we are Jews. 

Abraham Tho ©diet says all the virgins of the land. 

iiOrdecai Hadassah'. 

Esther i.ry uncle'. 

Isaac Oh, day oi darlrncssl 

Asher Oh, day of tribulation! 

Simeon Vfoe I Woe'. 'Jnto Israeli 

Abraham vTliat are you ?*oin{j to do? '.Vhore are you goin;; to hide 
the maici? If she sta;s hero, she will be^taVen. 

Reuben ivlordecai, loo>: up and act, this is no time to dream. 

Abraham Will you stand still and let this shArne fall upon 

us, or dost thou hold it an honor that thy dauc^hter 
become a cojicubiue uiito the Zing? 



6. 

Esther Unole, save me. 

Mordeoai ily mjrrtle blo.ssom, hi'.ve no fear. 

Abraham ?To fear? Listen. Doat thou hoar the shouting? It 

aeanii the soldierB are close at hand. Dost thoti hear 
the acreaias? They're rending our dauphtnrs from thoir 
mother ' a arms . 

Reuben To arna. i'o ams. 

Isaac iVe are a ha/tdrul of Jews against the hosts of ^Ihasuerus^ 

Reuben if v/e cannot save them, at least e can die for the;n. 

Isaac Our death will not save them, boy; ve muat laeot force 

with strategy. 

Reuben That's w?i-'t our p.noeators said. If they had met force 

with force, the Temple might still have been staziding 
in Jerusalem. To arms. To arms. Better our vronen 
should periaii by our sv ords than fall into the hands 
of the infidel King. ^ Is rushing off, party stops 
him) To ."'.rf.'is. To arms. 

Isaac Thou art mad. 

Reuben jfay, it's you who are mad svho stand here bleating li]-e 
sheep while our T/omon are led to the slaughter lil-.e 
lambs. Stay you and bleat, or lilo Mordeoai, stand 
still and dream. I will go to the Synagogue to gather 
those together v/ho are not "fraid to die, 

(£:aTS) 

(ENTER SEVERAL JE^^S) 

Abim. Woe. Woe unto Israel. Our day of joy is turned into 
the nig'nt of lamentation. 

Jacob. They have tal-en my daughter for tlie King. \\'oe . Woe. 
TxiJiry have taVen my daughter for the King. 

Waphtali i,ordecai. i..ordecal. Where is Mordeoai? 

Zippion Mordecai . iiordecai. What are ve to do? Then art 02ie 
of the elders of Israel. '>^at wilt tliou do? 

Mordeoai I have paid my tribute and a/'i a free rt^an. "/ho will 
dare to lay hand upon my child? 

Joseph They ?iave ta^en avay ny cliild . 'hat difference is 

there betreen thy child and nine? 

Benjamin }riy, while yot tuere is time. i'"'ly. Thy honsa will be 
among the first to be searched, every one in the city 

of Shusiiaii "! no\7s t/.at Hadassau !.« the rfiirer.t of them 
all . 



(iviTEH lSS/.Ciii:Rj 



7. 

Issachar i'ly, fly. Tharo is no tirae to 1op,o, The p.oiri-srs 
are oomlng down the street. 

Mordecai It is the Passover. "a may not stir. 

Abraham Thou shalt live my laws, not die b;- them is the com- 
mandnont of our God . 

All t'ly. Ply. Before it is too late. 

Iviordecai V/hither shall vje fly'. If we po to the tops of the 

nouAtains if it be tlie v/ill of ^'-od, they shall find us 
out. If we hide in the depths of the sea, if it be the 
will of T'Od, we sriall not escape. The Lord is Cod. 
V>'ho shall esop.pe His will? 

Abraham This is not the will of Cod. It is the will of Aliasu- 
erua, the Fing. 

Mordecai 'fhe 7ing- can do nothing that is not the will of God. 

Benjamin Come, child, if thy uncle will not hide thoe, co^.e 
with me . 

Esther Nay, he is my fat^xer and my riothor. I will stay with 
him. 

Abraham Then stay with him and perish. And when the Fing is 
tired of tliy beauty and casts thee aside ll>e a robe 
that is soiled, then cry aloud to th;;,'- Cod ^.nd see if 
He will in&Ve thee clean ag-ain. 

Esther Uncle . 

Mordecai Blasphemer, I told thee not a hair of this child's 
head shall ho har-ned. 

{'"^noQ'kinty; off at door) 
Officer (''''ff ) Opr»n ir. the name of Ahasuorus, the King. 

(Dead fause ) 

Mordecai Rebecca, open the door. (She does so) 

(EJTTKR OPH'ICERS followed by five 
soldiers ) 



Officer By the Inws o± the ledea and jee^-ainns tn't alter not 
a proolanation from Ahasueru8,t]ie Fin^. "Greeting I 
Unto all vho dwell in the city of Shushan ard in the 
hundred and s,ven and fr?^enty provinces v/hich m<>e up 
the KinfTO.om of Ahasuerus, the King, from India even 
unto Ethiopia, let "ll the fair youn.^r' vi.^gins be gath- 
ered tor-ether and come unto the ci.stody of Hegai, the 
keeper of the house of the women, that they nay p:o in 
unto the Kinp- pfter the days of their purification., 
according to the laws of the Kodes and Persians, thnt 
Ahasuerus, the Fing, may choose one from amon.^st them 
to be his wife and to h.^ve place inste.-id of Vashti who 



8. 



Officer 

Esther 
Mordecai 

Officer 

Esther 
Alordecal 

officer 



was his Queen. And wuoso shall roxuse to {':ive up his 
daujrrhter ho shall he hanged by the necl" antil he be 
dead on a gallows r^.ised before ti-ie doorv/ny of liis 
house. 

(Advances. Reads j Mordecai, the Jew, son of Jair, 
son of Siii!-)ai. son of 7ish, of the tribe of Benjamin, 
thon hast k fair virgin in Shushan as thy daughter 
who is thy brother's ciiild. Ln the name of Ahasue- 
ras, the Fin£r, I con:, arid you to give hor up to me. 

(Shrinks to him) Uncle - save me. 

/ijnd if I pay this penalty exacted by the law and an. 
hanged upon a gallowa shall it then be accounted unto 
me for quittance and shall my death cave this child? 

i-ordecai, I have Irnown thee this many moons; thor/ art 
a Jew and I am Persian, but thou dost lil-e me well. 
?hou art a man. Thy death will avail thee nothing for bj 
this proclamation I am forced to tain away the maid. 



Uncle, 3ave rae . 

I ami accounted a rich man in Shushan. I have storet 
sil>3 and merchandise and cups of gold and precious 
stones, taVo them all, but leave the child with me. 



of 



Thy riches will avail thee nothing, Lordecai, for thou 
hast :ieard this proclamation pnd it is well Trnown in 
Shushan that thy daughter is the fairest virp:in of them 
all . 



Abraham Thou dost see, thou fool, whether the will of 'od can 
save thee from the will of Ahasuorus, the King. 

IttOrdecai "31asphemer, shall I doubt my God? If it be His will 

that this ciiild shall be ta>en hence, hence she goes. 

If it be His will that this child lives she lives, as 

if it b3 JTis will that this child dice, she dies. 

( Officer advances ) 

Hadassah, my daughter, go with this man. 

Esther Uncle. 

Mordecai To-night thou cJidst say unto me, child, "In the hour 
when thou dost cor.mand me may I remember azid repaj" in 
obedience and gratitude anything I may have done for 
thee." I (^om.'.and thee, go with this man, in the name 
of thy womaruiood, in the nen.e of our poople, and In the 
name ox our God . 

(Dead pause) 

Esther Thy v/ill is rdiie, uncle. I on«^' . i i;iu->.ti bu -.^becca) 
?etch my veil, Rebecca, that I may hide my face. 



9. 



Rebecca Oh, my child'. At least I may go vd.th her. I have 
tended her since she v/as a little ciiild, at least I 
may go with her._ 

Officer It nay not be. '^he maid muat go alone. 

Morddoai Rebecca, fetch the veil. 

(EXIT HEBiiCCjV) 

Esther TJnole, Uncle. (i'li.-;s to his arms) 

Liordeoai i'y myrtle blossom, tliough thou dost go to dv/ell V;-ithin 
anotiier houpe, thy home is evor in thy ui.cle's heart. 

Esther But they are strari^rers thore, - women of Persia and 

I'.edia, who tho- lirst alrays told r.ie, hate oar peo]le. 
Their customs are not our custois, their ways are not 
otir v/nys . How sha].l I, a Jewish r.aiden, live amidst 
thoir s/ieers and rcibes? 

Mordecai T^ell rener^bered. Therefore, m^v'' daughter, tal.e ^ood 

heed to put a seal upon thy lips. Speak thou no word 
of wlion thou art, thy njinie, thy lindred or thy race 
until I give thee leave. 

Esther I will obey in this as in all else. But oh, my uricle, 
iiov/ sJiall I live, bereft of thy protecting arm? 

Mordecai (Tod will protect thoe, Hadassah. He goeth where thy 
uncle :-,a^ not come. Confort thee, my dauj-^hter. Each 
day froci sa/irise until noon and from the fifth hour 
until sunset, I will sit at the King's p:ate by the 
city y/all. If thou art troubled, send t?i;'- messenger 
and I v/ill counsel thee. 

Esther And thou wilt serid r.-.e daily tidings of thy health? 

iviordecai l^aoh day I promise thee I v/ill find the moana . 

(i^OTEH RjBIXCA with veil) 

Rebecca Master, the veil. (She cives i.lordecai the veil) 

Mordecai (Puts it over Esther) Ly dove, it is ticie for thee to 
stretch thy wings and ily away. i.-:ayst thou find a 
resting place for the sole of thy tender feet and re- 
turn with i\n olive br-^nch between thy lips, my messen- 
ger of peace. 

Esther Bless me before I go. 

Mordecai Txie Lord bless and preserve taoe. The ^ord lit His 

• countenimce shino a,>on thae and give thoe peace. The 
Lord bless thee with the threefold blessing of Abra- 
ham, of Isaac and of Jacob. .Uon. (She kisses his 
hand. Re draws h.-sr to him) lily myrtle blossom, who 
shall bloo.; awhile In another }i0P.ae, farev/oll . 

Officer i,.alden. 



1 . 

Esther I ar. ready, i^'ather. iYiends. Home, l^^arewell . 

(EXIT) 

Rebecca My child, iiy lai'ib, (To Iviordeeal) How canst thou 
stand tliere and see her go? 

Mordeoai Peace. The Lord h ith given. The Lord hnth taTen 
away. Blessed be the naine of the Lord. 



CUP.TAIIT. 



ACT H. SO.,. .. I. 

Outside the Palace Gates. 

Tiie sun is setting. 

Tliere is a booth ■fiifn ;^ourds, laelons nnd fruit a/ic. ve.u-e- 
tables v/hich the proprietor is taking down and paoJing 
up. 

Several Jews are discovered. Some have basinets of fruit 
and others various irriplenents of trade. 

The im})res3ion to be convoved is tiiat the end of the day 
has co.Tie and the people rre preparing to go home. 

One or tv;o Persiaas in the bacl-ground are mal-iing: pur- 
chases from t^n traders. 



Asher What business, Abrehaia, son of Joseph? 

Abraham Good. Very good. I have m^de seventeen she' els. 
And you. Si. aeon, son of Isaac? 

Simeon (ShaVes head) iTot good. (He ta>es purse out, drops 
the ;;.oney into his hsjid '^nd counts it) I have made 
only three she! els a^id a quarter. Not enou.^h to pay 
for the new roba Rachel bougiit at the last fassover. 

Asher Ah, that's bad, for yoar Rachel lil es fine elotnes and 
fine clothes cost ;r;oney. 

Ben^ . Well, well. Ix^ trade is bad to-day, to-morrow it will 
be p:ood. The yin^ is in Shushan for the o;reat Spring 
festival. The women in the h-:^rem will need your goods. 

Simeon Would that there '.vere twice as many v/omen in the harori, 
then there v;ould be twice as much need for my eribroider- 
ies and twice as much profit for me. 

Abim. Remember you break brerd with us to-night. 

Abraham Aye, I re:'iei'iber. 

Abim. I would Mordecai would eciie, too. Look where he sjtands 
apart, like ono of the statues in the King's Court". 

Reuben Or lil-e one of the Zing's courtiers wJio never speaks 
unless he is spoken to. Speak to him Abimolech, per- 
chance if you as^ him again he will come. 

Abim. (Goes to rlordecai ) '.'Mil you not change your ni'irl nd 
come with us to-nir'jht? 

Mordecai I thank you, friend, but I cannot leave this spot. 

Ben^. The sun is setting. In a little while the night will 

fall. What >env3 -^ou here 'hen t'ne cIav'.s work is done? 



Mordecal 
klordooal 



i..ordeoai 

Hegal 
ivordooal 
Beni . 

wordooai 

i..ord©cai 
ilegai 



I've had no v/ord fron ;^8thar yot, y.noh day airioe i'lrat 
they tooK her fron me and broufrht Iwr to the rtilace, I 
mWQ v/aited xor nev/a of hor woll being. The ami has al- 
most set. It is the lin-it tirie my neafionger has bonn 

00 lato. l^' heart misgives uie. i>^' child is ill. 

T.'ri^ should tna child be ill "oeoauso the nessonf^or I3 
late? 

1 do not Inow. I oannot tall. But X h-i.vo a fe aing; 
hoi'O about ny he-Tt tV't v >\rna rio of aoino danj^or to my 
house • 

'.>ive rio hood to foeliii-a about vour he>".rt to maT e you 
aad; for see, at the very inej:ition of your Tear, the 
JL ill ace ,2;atob are o]jenod axid iie,7ai, the ohiof Kuanoh, 
ooioa forth. 

i..y li^stiier'a mja3on/-er. (:}oe3 to him) Hegai, what 
nov,'3? 

rhe child is -.voll • 

Then all is well, (ile arilloa) 

A iiiomont sinoo thy brov's v/ore blacl' as ni,v^Jit with fear» 
now thy face ahinea v ith ^oy li'o the suii at noon. 

i\ifQ* Joy i3 the Hiin ox life. 

jiore is t/j^' Jlsther'a lottor. .low X muat be .^^one. 

You'll Wivii to taVe my aiiswer bacl^? 

,-iavo l\j ready a£;aint;t my return. I go iiito tiie city to 
fetoji p^rfunes for the ladies 01 the Harem. 'ooV at 
t}iia liHt. 0)i0 v/otJj.d oiiin': tiiG,' t5r.t in Vcishti's place 
plready by the deriRnds they maVe. Nard arid bftlSHnun, 
attar of roaea juid of lilios, oar.j^hire ajid spi.Oi-ird, ca] 
amus and oinnHf.on; r-iyrrh and alona, franVinoenae, - 
the mo-t expenaivo spioos. ^hi^j '11 have tho.u all to pre- 
pare theroeelves ai^rHinHt J^oiag ii- ♦o the Kin^. How dif- 
faroiit froiii your little x-other vviio asl-a for nothing 
and ia content vith what the royal >eeper of the won 
givea her. 



women 



lien J • 
..ordeoai 

Shouts Off 

i^ordocai 
3iraeo, 



you ai^e tne foil^' of forebodln,".a now. 

Jeiiovah be praised. All is veil with 
honviiiosa still iianga about iny }ieart. 



ivtiior; but i '10 



.lail to .iadcui*. .iail 
'i.ii that lioiaa? 
^.a Jaiuan, tiia son 



an! 



data, passing through the 



3. 

Bti-rtat* r/harflvor he joos tUo poordo a'jjjit* 

ABhor .'^o* they nsro paid to ahout . 

Sl;-!f>(vi .;^-e. They Ghon.t for hi~ AVon j.c.t?d,^r' t.h".;i Tor Ah'-.si'f^rt 3 

hlrmolf . 

Xsaao Since AhnauerfB rftlued hi'.*, to th<) seat; next iiia tiroru*, 

it Is ;vl! iHVyor'J t'v:t Imj v;1o^;^ to rfit iii i';;> t'lrti/.o Mi ,- 

roHchoe to tha ©''^los* 
f3>joutB'^ff ilail to HMHpni Hr.'l *'r, ■^'. ■'.;'. 

.')•;?.' ;'m< r.rrtl to fjhOiit v'.o .■.riu Unont i It'Ii .•'11 

1/--\t. 

"^^Hon •. ;jtiO'it boi'or . inrmn*. .':".ll to 

( j?i:?'.?!.U'i rnnnlne;) 

';h« son of Hifv^iftdntnl 



Zlppion ilftnan Is f)Oinln^<^l ilar^ttri is? c<5!/)tn,i!j; ■joiirt tha ^neo b«foro 



rnn!r»d to •::.>«! to In'i-^n .y'><^t.-«n'."-. • His follov;c*r9 an/ 
ho ie incoaso<1 against i^on. ♦ ''■/i«rt) f,r> "Ji , ''n.^Ai tn 
him wh«ii ho oci^ios to-d?: . 



' ^aolt /noel to ;=<•,.-/ .. -^i^a Kir^;« 

>-':U-tr'l r"^;- nr'IrtOnl.) -Vi t prlv... ;.''.V<!» you a'oovo l«8, t.'lftt 

a malo f»1)olp?*no«» to H[«fnRn and you Bhould atBiid 

.. -.'.it? 

^»ri!(i>ui:i rt is the 00'-;>-»:v ;■ " ''^v' ; , , . ^, _.;. ., ...■; 

before ;'.5'>?ini. -a ^-^|> v t-".ri«)p:roM« 

..ordeoal ""•'.'^ V^ -an m^,ii bopn ox' wo?- an 117 o car- 

Mist from ' o,«vrjo» 



4. » 

(The crowd be^^ins to enter) 

All Hanianl Hamanl Hail to Haman, the sh^-^dow of the King. 

(Enter Hainan) 

(He is borne in a gorgeous litter, with an officer in 
front of ?iira) 

Officer 'vTay for Hamanl ilalre way for the shadow of the Kinf^, 
.^a^e way for Hanan, the son of Hanedatal 

All (Kneel) Hail Ha/aanl Hail Sh;ido\" of the King'. 

Officer (T6 i-Iordeoai) K.nool to the shadow of the '"ing. 

i'ordecai f'lever. 

Hainan Hall'. :'^ho dares to stand when Hcjaan passes? 

Officer It is ivicrdecai, the Jew. 

Haman The man who refused to ].xieel bdlore me yostorday'. 
Bend the Vnee, dog of a Jew, wiien Haman conoa. 

Lordecai (Stands witli folded arus ) Yesterday I refused to lend 
the J-nee to Haruan and shall I bexid to-da.y? 

Hainan "lou shall bend before me, oven as one of your fathers 
bent before one of m^^ fathers . 

Mordecai TTliich of my forefathers boved before your forefathers? 

Haman Your father Jacob boved before iisau and Zsau was the 
ancestor of Hanan. 

ilordecai I am the posterit;;/ of Benjamin and when Jacob bowed be- 
fore Esau, Benjamin v/p,s not yet born and he never in 
all his life boved before a man. 

Haman T^hether vour ancefltor Benjaidn bo7/ed before a man or 
not, you, Mordecai, shall bo?/ .be^'ore me. 

kordecai (TooTs at him j iiordecai may die, but llordecai vill 
never bow before Haman. 

Haman Then Llordecai shr.ll die. And not Mordecai alone, but 
the people frorr. whor Mordecai hps sprung. I go to 
the King. He shall deliver you and all your tribe in- 
to my hands to be puiashed for your presurvntion. 
Tal^e up my litter. To the King. 

Officer Male way for nnnian, son of Hamedatal Make v-ay for the 
Shadovf of the /'iri,;l 

( Haman 's procession exit a tiu'ouffh the Palace r^ates fol- 
lov. od by the iersians shoutinp-) Hail to Haman, son of 
Hamedata I 



5. 



Reuben (Coming to kordecai) Why did yoa not Tneel to him? 

Simeon It would have pleasured him and could do you no h rm. 

Abim. Why did you not Tnool? 

Mordeoai Why should I "kneel to Haraan v/hen it is forbidden to 
Vneel to any man? 

Issachar Thinl' not of yourself, Iilordecai, but of us. You heard 
what he said. Not on you alone would his vengeance 
fall bat on iiS, beceuae of you. His pale face ip;rev,' 
r/hite la death v;ith passion and his eyes flashed fire . 
If they had struc-- you dead, ve should no.: be rending 
our garraents for you. 

kordecai The fire tliat flashes from Dien's eyes cannot kill. 
Onli' the Tire th't Ilaohes froi'i the sky. 

Benj . If his eyes canjiot kill, his voice has the pov;er to 
slay, lie will enccm];r..Ts your c^enth and ours, too. 
Ve need you in the Synagogue, Mordeoai. 

Simeon V/e need j'-our counsel to guide us in the p^th we have 
to go. 

Issaohar Aye, Ineel v.'hen he returns. Reinerber F.sther. She 

needs you, too, although she is iri the Palace of the 

Abim. Eneel when he returns, rerhaps If he sees you humbled, 
his wrath may be appeased and he vill not sogV for 
vengeance . 

Asher Aye, kneel, I'ordecai, if not for your sa: e and for 

ours, for Fsther's. 7\en though she's in the Palace 
of the King, she'll not be safe. They'll find out she 
is a Jev/esa and they'll drag her forth and slay her if 
Hainan slays us as he said he would. 

Reuben Xihy do you st.and hs if you wore noved in stone, Llordecai 
and 3pea!k not? 

Mordecfi I have Si'OTen. V/h: t aaed is there to speak again? 

Reuben It is useless to argue r;ith him. 

Simeon He is liVe the f'^ranite pill irs oi" bhe palace gates. 

Abim. The gun is sot. 

Abraham Darkness "iias fallen. 

Asher Let us go . 

Issachar Ve. Let us go. xray aod, .-la^ian do not extend his 

hand as he has threatened and put out our lightAs the 
night piit3 out the light; of day. 

(They go off) 



6. 

Benj . (Going) Peace lie with thee, liordecai. 

iiOrdocai And with theo . 

Mordeoai What little faith thoy have to thinr; that Haman can 

prevail unless it be the will of God. (Retiring into 
the shadow) Yea, even though I v/alV through the Valley 
of the Shadow of<»Death, He v^ill support me. 

(ENTER BIG TAN) 

3i;Ttan (Comoa on. He peers around) Not hero yet. (He gives a 
characteriatio oall ---.nd whlstloBi 

Teresh ( Of X.i (Repeats tJie v\'histle) 

Bigtan Ho is ooning. He oomea. 

(KM.';"^ 'i.'.RESH fron; the opposite aide) 

3igtan Veil? 

Teresh (i'uts his hai\d into the breast oi his dress and draws 
out a little packet) Lool' I 

Bigtan You have it? 

Teresh ( j^ods ) £ have it. 

Bigtan Good I Did you have any trouble to obtain it? 

Tereah No nan h-is trouble \vho has jt\old enough to pay. la 

an/ one about? 

Bigtan Not a soul. The Jews have all >zone home. 

Teresh To-night Ahasriorus will go home; the horr.e from which 

there's no return. 

Bigtan He will sleep to-nigJit inore soundly than he has over 

slept beiore. He will not need to send for his pliysi- 
Gian to give him a potion to na"" e him sleep again. 

Teresh We'll be nis physicians to-night. This porder which 
we'll mingle v.ith his wine bofors he sleeps will mal^e 
him sleep for ever. 

Bigtan To-norrow'fj sun will rise, but Ah.suorus \.'ill sleep on. 

Teresh The moon will rise and still Ahasuerus will sleep on 

for countless ii.oonc and countloBs suns. 

Teresh Ahasuerus whom we hate sJaall die to-night. Never again 

shall he have us soorrgod and i;ocTed as re rore mocVed 
and scourged yesterday. 

Bip'tan A little povder, a cup of vino and Ahasuerus, Zing of 

Persia, lord of the hundred and twenty and seven prov- 



7. 

inces shall be no bottar th.'/i a depd dog on which the 
flies feast in the road. 

Teresh After to-night he -will lie no more in tne var and 

yielding arna of woman, but in the cold nno frozen arms 
of Death. 

Bigtan Let as divide the poison, so that which ever of us t^-^o 
shall attend hira to his b-d to-nip;ht nay be/able to 
mingle it v/ith his wine. 

Teresh (Pours half out) '3e careful to v/ash your hands as you 
(7.0 in, lost any shall have fallen on them, for it 
should 7rill you, so potent is it. 

3ip:tan I'll heed j^our earning. Let us go in. 

iRXV.U'.E BIG IAN and TERESH) 

i.lordecai (Advancinfr) So they would kill the King. I must pre- 
vent it if I can. {lie taJ'es a parchment from his dress 
and a stylus. He v/rites) "All ia well with me. Two 
of the Zing's Eunuchs who attend hira have plotted to 
iiill hiiA to-nigat by putti/ig poison into his wine. I 
overheard them as they Bpo>-e . Tret this >-no'.';led!^Te to 
the "ing and save hi^s life. Thj'- uncle who loves thee, 
ivlordecei ." i^cw to get this writing to her. Hegai . 

(EHTEH HI'.GAI with the baG3 ot on his arm) 

Mordecai (Advancing towards him) Ly frioiid Hegai. 

iiegai I am back again. Oh, the prices I have hr-d to pay. 

(He takes out a phial end holds it up) Attar of roaes. 
Ei.ehteen minahsl And t?iree iaontud ago, the charge was 
only twelve, (iie takes oucrnoth.ir phial) Attar of 
lilies, - Harouji, the perfumer, veighed it against gold 
pieces. ;.lihrraah, the sun-moon, will have iiothiiif^ else. 
Oh, these women I Tliey are not worth what men pay for 
them, bi;t they get it all the ea/io. 

L'ordecai Leave tiiinking of the women. 

Hegai Leave tliinking of the women i That is what I am paid to 
do. 

Mordecai (Impatiently) Leave thinking of the women and listen 
to what I say. (Kg draws hii- close; v;hispers ) There 
is a plot to kill the Fing. 

Hegai A plot'. 

Mordecai Aye. Two or those who -wait on him liave cona Iro,-. to 
put poison into his 7/ino to-night. 

Hegai ilcw do you knov/? 

Mordecai I overheard thern as they spol e ;iust now. I ?/as in the 
shadow of that pillar and I hc?.id each word they si.oke. 



8. 

Seel (de taVes out the letter) It is written. Here. 

Hegai Your letter to Esther? 

Liordeoai Aye. To Esther. If she could e;et it to the ring. 

Hegai She shall taVe it to the King. 

Mordeoai How? 

Hegai The twelve monthts of h-^r preparntion have beon fulfilled* 
She h«.s hoen ready these fifteen d^ys and iiore to go 
in to the 7ing. She shall c'"'^ ''"- '.jht. 

ivlordecai -To-ai^^ht? 

Hegai To-ni.^;nt, - with yoi^r lett'^r in hor hand, that she may 
save the Kin;^ jp.ror, Denth* vTiio Vnovg hut t]mt she was 
preordained for this, - to bring honour to our people. 

Mordeoai Our people? 

Hegai Yos, iiordecai, son of Benjamin, our people. Withiii the 
King's -palace I ara Hegai, tne teei-uir of the women, but 
when I was a Piai child in my fatlior'a house, I was 
Reuben, son of Daniel, of the Tribe of Benjamin. 

LiOrdecai liy >.ins;':an. 

Hegai Before I was defain.ed, I was thy ^ insman. But now I am 
as though I had never been, - a walking shadov;, fit to 
be trusted in the harem of the King. What greater deg- 
radation can the Cod. of Israel h've for any of His 
chosen? 

Mordeoai Revile not Jehovah, ]-:eubea, son ol Daniel. C-od worT s 

by devious ways His wonders to perform. To-night I have 
heard this plot against the King. Had you not been 
keeper of the women, Ksther could not have heard it. 
Soine other virgin ■. ould go ii; to the King, ao would 
drin"*^ the wine his chamberlain presented to him and ere 
he closed his eyes in sleep, he would have closed his 
eyes in Deeth. You are a .>iini3t:>r in 5od's hands to 
save the King's life. 

Hegai You have put a nev/ heart into my breast, a new light into 
my eyes, i.ordecii, son of BanjfV^J.n. Give me the letter. 
Ksther Shall bear it to the King. 

i.iordecal (He t-aVos Hegai 's hand) Uy kins- 'an. 

(EXIT HSaAI) 

Mordecni The myrtle blossom of arj lonely aouse; God's instru- 
ment on earth. (He >neals anJ; t}irovs up hio arms) 
Unto thee. Oh Lord, 1 bend the J-nee, 5?hou God of Abra- 
ha.'i, of Isaac and of Jacob. 

CaRTAlJ.'. 



ACT 2, SCKlJx 2« 

The Interior of the He.rorti. 

Several ladies nro diaoovered, attoiided "by thoir iriaids 
and two or tiiroe Kumichs. 

;->OMO reclino liixiirioualy on cor.^/iets; oi/Ui'x-m ax: in 
ohAirs.By t/io side of rrioet oi thoi- , thore are littlo 
tahlog upon which nre goblets of ahorbet tuid cups out 
of ^i.ioh'thoy drlnV^ and beautiful boxes of aweotino-^-ta 
v/iiioli ZMj oat i:rov. time ro tiiie. Tnc Piniua f.re briiah- 
l;i^ their hair, i:ar.i<Hiri/»e; thi^-ir linRorB, ]')ainfeinf^ 
their eyebrovs, otc. At one aide slta ahel- parah, a 
very fat 'Irl. '6he ej'.ts sreotrt ■»'dl the titna* At an- 
other eity an o3d wor.aj". frey haired and wrinTlod droBvaod 
in blf^olc. 



'Jhla shor- 
. TftT-o it 



Sh^nfeda (rtlio Is aippiiic oherbat out of n golden oup) 
bot ia r40t sv-oot wnoufh. It noedrt more }ione; 
and bring- rno frosh* 

Kuniioh i'^&V.viB tho cnp fend ?^oe8! 

Narbftnu ( c/in,? Ittxuriouoly on hor bac> on a couch i?ith her nnua 
above* hor head. She pat a a finf^er into tho box of 
av?oot meats, raVoa onoe up, loo' a at it, puts it into 
her nouth, leta her f'-rr\ fall abovo hor head and eats 
it;» ^ho aigha latiCHOJ^onsly ; rho«e awaetr-ioats are doli- 
oiou-3« I'd lire to oat nothintr olse for ever. 

x'OCTiya If iron oi^t no nany, you will .>et aa fat aa ?5holcparah« 
Sho ha» not soon her feet for threa years mid noro. 

Harbjuirt Xt iiattors nothi:\e w)iethor o;io is fat or l«aii vhen one 
is alint up in tho irifrroin and X liJcG the 3- tiata* ( 8he 
holds one out at ana 'a lonpjth find looke at it) '.i?horo- 
fore, I f*at ther;i. fShe puts it into hor routhj 

Old woTian (Apart %•> haraolf, rocliiiP: to aj\d fro) I was youn^r 
onoe. Vice J^ went in to the Ki.i^. 

Shanfoda (.;'ut3 hor hand up to her head. fJh-^rpljr ) T>on't brush 

ao jvirdl i)o you thinV ri^ head ia Piade of wood and orm- 
not fe(»l? BruBh £ioftor. 



i'-ihrmah I nunch prefer a Kunuc)^. to a. wonsan to brush m^' hair« 
He seerif? to ta^o 8 pleasure in itp. touch. 

Shanfeda It isn't only your hair a I u.'iiicii Jinde pleasure in touoh- 
inf;. X saw ^ereah •' losing you by tho rose wator hatha 
last nlgiit before trjt "iRrnpa were lip-hted. 

i>ihrmah iUi^i if you did, what then? I was " 'd to a man 

when tiiey drag-f^id ;v>o £roh\ hin anil no here, 

iiiioh a Dianl Tiill and atrOAf vifch fiorcc ar? .8 that 
crusheo rce to hin and a mouth of fla;\e that set my 
mouth on fire. How I loved hini to taVo ifio in his 
ariiS arKl press i;;o to hin so that I could scarcely 



breatho whilo ha rained >la8oa on m\' .oatu* £ n^W'-^ 
lioen hero a yonr and I rriiss v/hnt I once had» I'r. Tion- 
oat Aiirt oonfoas It. Tliero's not one of na who does not 

lot the Kunnciia 1133 iiB .iiist Tor tho b<%>.3 of pruoticse. 

Perlando I don't. Olvo mo n man or ,<t1vo f^o nothlngl That ant- 

isractloii is thero t- boftutiXy one's solf for only wofoon 
tc c^ize nt? I want ?a .-.an, a roal nan, to admire n^y 
to ant V. 

Liart:ah ( . oanii'iif: xor\N'*ml v/itii uor cibov/t on hor Inec^a, nor ..wiOa 
clasped tCf^ether ni.t her chiiri rnlst^d on hp.r thopibs ) 
J'von wonen are bett^jr thaii nothlrii^. There is a oortain 
l>lo<^i8ure in mcVin^; tiien jer,loiiB. 

Ir^htu-fada (Snoerinplj') :*ow rnn;- t^onier flo yoa thlnV ;-ou'll maVe 
jealoiia, dp<f.r? 

:. ihrr\ah ^;ion /i vrorian flo.13.8 r^;e dear Xi: s tuat, I >now Bhe ie 
joalona alre?id; . 

Shanfeda ??on9 people? hr'.ve h fine ojdnion cJ theiiselves. 

..Jhri^:nh (I'iol'injr up a .mirror) ?rhi- shonlcin't I hav(> a fine 

opinion of nvmolJ!? i,4' mirror tolla (f.eto JUid more thrui 
T\y nirror. On}.i' vestord.".i , }i!*j^4i praiacu tiie luster 
of rc' ^v'''S» the ornl of r-'v .fao-'*, the bowinf: of mi" Month, 
t});0 v9hitonoGS of :•;;/ teeth, tiie ri-LULdness oi' ri^' chin, the 
curvlnip- of r-ii; boao; ., the strai j-htnoaa of n*;- leg, the 
a.icotheassa of ny sVln and Hegai ia a man. 

Shanfeda The Kinj^'o onpon a nauj 

i;ihrr:iah ;i« iiaa a n^ui's oi^ea a.id so he Vnowa what men adrriire. 
■"Mt on© r»vHi; pr'ilsos, another rvnr la IIko to praise. 
■• -.at he r-dr-iroa, the Xinf; will nd'-ire, too. 

Shanfoda v?}vit hao oono to the King? He has recoivod no ladi"- 
fror; the hRr?»i;. for nearly two fiVJl moons. 

, Hi*hanu 'rbejf aa;- lie droH " shti Btil.l . 

^^.Tmya ;Tiirodunya who waa i^jj iust to via It iiir.~; a:i;s Yauati'a 

piorLir-3 still haii,^o above hi a hod. 

i..ihri'!fth io Ahaai-'erua'a hef>rt lio r.et -iiti that no other 

woran'a beaut;'- oar. effaoe it; 

j.erisnde ; ' na... can ntnrv« h.Va oi'-ea of wc "ii'a boeut;.' for ever. 
ooonor or Inter, Ahaauorua .vj il vooeive ua. ;^ien ny 
t«rr. c. go t( hir., I shall a>3 Mo;;»ii f^iivo i-io a 

rob'-' ' iP- ali;. v;it/i rwb.- stara iy. v.: halrj rub; 

riv-(^a Ci- 'ra, rub;- 1 ■- ^ on liV riri\a, a rrl-; 

rtf»(*Mac5.^ •'■ fthTT.n.t t Jiiorua ,'.'.*i.y thiiil t .. t 

;,ia heart. 

onjiiueoa av. , 

ii.ihrraah I h^v.* . rti^.di • /. robe oi silver cli.th 



3. 

with silvor ahooa upon mi" x'eot, a silver oro\« > > <» ini' 
hoa*,^, t^ri^Ht b?>.n(!8 ol silver or* m:'- An^sd, jiiJ. ; 
bright, that Aiifiauerua n.fly thln^- tlve an- 'f" •■>' 

lioavon to lie v/lthln hie «.rfn8. 

;]arb>?.nu .'UmJ £ ehMll p^-o to hln all blHC> tMn& secret na the ni^,ht 

wit" ' '■ • -^ '^■. 1' riiiiR^drR, wrl8t« fi!ii\ .•\r!'i8, ny hair 

alii lile atHrs) in the »^ y 4hat ho nay 

t"(u . u..^; -ir.'-v w . , co.",<? irie Hrjiate to held hi ' •»'• 
ar:?i8 nnd st«op his 8f?neea in ©"bllvloru 

rermys ■^bllTioril I woiil-d rr»n.8« rdfl n^//,?!f-.<=i to tiiolr '-.d^^haQt 

that Iw nl.'tht ror.Bt - " > ><t ;',/.,■ atlll "-.a r^trtrvod, 
a till him,5er to b« :i i. /or me, omimrplod robea 

.-liid atipiVuiros, '-7ith .-. ■ -'■?->l»t9 oentored with coral 

0088^^3 Oil n\' hr'Mi-^'c'A, •• ) i:> Tar below m^r w»\iat a 

ul*\<.io.'i(1 oircl' oy m iT''! . .^-li. • 

iOrls'tdo ^o th^t la how i'O' M r. ,.v.<> +• ,-, •: ~. i,, ,,-,jj ij^^j croT?/i of 
v?>;ihti on ^'our ]; ^ . ;'on aro 

ri.';.'jit, Firsga ure ;.i. ,. , ..: . ,..-.. .... >■: ,.. .wi rfni.oh ariplors 

outo;i with hrl^rhtl;' colored hixiv* 

.-ihrnah ?h© hoo> tlvit o>itohoo :ien-flsU Isat ie baltod with n 
woj'ian* 

Jh^inJTada You havo tuiGlod rijioij, ihrnnh. .- ou otij^ht to lnow» 

Jow ■•-f^ni' ri3/i hnv^J ^'01.1 CftUjjht.'' 

ulJipwih .fll toll :ron tVit "^faen X hnvo oo<i« forth frotr. the Klrip;. 
'>ld Fonan f ».« b«»ror^; ^ v,'\a younc oneo« roo I mjnt 1.. to tho 

.. lhrrr.H>i •?>iv (So the^ "ClCi,^ theae oia v. -..d to co>^e into the 

•-vepftrnt; 10,-1 Co'U.ri.? ''^ \v=H/«t no i-jii.ts o.C vrvit vm ahj'll 
1.,^..,.. ,,...,-. 'i,,^, ]j^.,y ijoiio hie ?;orBt vflt'/. u3. 

f" "^ ■ ^ ■ ••'•*o':vfld bv a nr'rcn 

(■'oirig to hlw -I'd ci*'.y,.fii .;' .".rov: d -ilr. ! 'ih, ••legal I 
^lorjftl . H«ffal •• 

;'i«rbftnu li'ivo 7011 brought .^ •-■••''- •"•• ?■-. -i-iu/ir 

i©rl.ynd© Did you rret m.y bjOsftr^iui H»^ri ''-" " nceriBf? 

inr^ij'B ^T^ore 1» ny ftttar of rose+w '=1 t^i jannB'? 

. Ihnnah '^Ivo ma m^' attar of lilioa. 

':;;.., ;-^/i>. -:,n j-q,;, t^rinf^ \ne th^ >wnr;ft i,<M-! l ■- rn,-'.r •■.-^'■^■.i lor tor 

riii^Tor tlpa? 
Sh«>pftrHh inva ;rou. brop ' tnioata ox '^obnt? 

ilep-ai (Ti^Hiv ivirif: tiv?:; to the vn- 

h©)ri;jB . 



4r, 

Your imrd. Your Viisaraun. Your at^ar oj? jillloa. 
Your sta'ta olritr^erit nM your odorous cor.b. (HroeBoa 

to :3Jv>''i>Hr«ih) Arid ;'-oiir sv-eetr-ionta of Hahnt. 

,irla oxpr««a tholr dali/Tht in « o/iorua oX aatia- 
i.%otJ.oji. Shofparah eats out of a hnf-:« flit hoz t^rwod- 
il-) 

He«r»l ( .00-8 arouiwi) Jut where la Kather? 

Shaj'sfedn '"^r ;V. r-^or r-i 7?'',-t« nn>: for Kethor first? 

Ilopei Tv-i-*. "'rri ."^ '.ir l;oi*'^ . 



Snaiifoda 

All 

Shanfeda 

rarmys 

Shanfoda 

: irlianu 
3ha..radH 

i ar:v"8 

. erlR'^.de 

r:hmif®da 
rfurbanu 



•:>:"i^6 th'in ".7/» do'' 



ore fftvor 



ore favor in ;^'ovr 
n you? 



i vl O • 

.UmL I. Md X. And r 



Afcjt 



t Oftryj to tK'* hnr«fn, yor 

ivd the "ioat d«llc^ito >■ 



•n' tho rich- 



You sMiit lior royal olnt.-iont, tho sa.-io tlie .r l/ifrs oi' 
J: rthla rt-3e» I '-.-jow It for tho "-^ing of i-'«rthla aont 
eof'ie to tn^' i'atJior for rv'.r ut^« • 

And yon /^-rnv© hor rleh droseoa. 

And Tfiagnirioerit onm^ii^riSs. 

:.ive jron not :\l\ rlcs.. 'Ir^ssoa j^^-r mtt/ijnii'icant orfwuionts? 

Yr3, brt Vu-'r <lr'-=»es'm ^fo:--*) rich;).' '>n<l ';(.»r oriiM-,f»rf!« ■ i-iTo 
ao-.^tl. r-. 



.A/id ::Vli«. s'.o r.ear t/: 
rob'? or -v .It-T, 



Iwaya v^eara a sliiiple 



. I:?;* t :^ v;> ; 1. Mm Vir»r ♦ 



-5 nfiny jrtElta ••(S T, 
/i."j% Wills 1='.A<?;1 - 

..030 d..iiit'V!: ^r Is .^/lo ' 



.-,f ■-» 



Xj." dn» riJ V 



aiie'd 



out them* 



Lilhrraah rhe would If dim were you. You nlwu^a tnl> about vour 
Xnt'dor, "the _rljio3« 

iorbftnu I ^r'-. tlrafl of hettriiifi: nbout tho jr5..'ic<j. 

l?anr(y» So tu-. I« 

klhrmah Di Vn» nornl/jg, it 'a n:.' fAth^r* tb'* rrl'.co. At noon, 
it 'a my fjxthor. the rrlnoo* In t. 1,0:, it's rij' 

father, the xrlr.oo* iiow * irjay jpi, j ^otir xt'-thor? 

jr^oriiuide Kow b5!OuI^ aho XjiO^*" v^-n wu«ii. »*»" h«r n«->t)jftr that. 

Sharifedft tf roii te».j"i 3.JT« It/i her hmiila 

uiijp.'ti8ft(1 .-.irf! heir -.'iiif^^ra ui-i . 'j.i tc&r ^ our f^ioes 

wit;', i;' i'/<ll«?« 

Kowi .eHoei •■j",c;ei ;eHcol i*ll hf'vr> no fi^htliic: hero. 

L'l tii^' , bftnut; ?iaVi»8 ail iqaal • 

SJiarXeda .'Irtli suuuid bo c^ .. rii^cQ 

ehoujiii net have • • 

iiofftl , ti«i hHrer: of *h^ .yt"^. f.ro no cl>iU{^>itora, only 

•. .uo9'.M to i)o\ is t,h« wtonpinp 8ton« by W!\ich 

(:::■?." . 

I.8th«r Ycu aertt for tfiov 

Slmiiffida ■>!? oourdo, he sent for ^ou* 

I^ihr>niih He aondo for ijon overi' 3^:. v.lidu ; o,.- aro not horo* 

Isthor Ift t>y»t 0)2' fault? 

Shai?fodn Ii' ; on could Una r?-.vor i^i th*5 e; ea of AliBatif^rna ns 
,ynp fiftve fomjd it in tho dyea of ^.eg-alj you'd sit in 
Va»}*ti'a tliib^m 

ibtiief (b;J.loai ho aji: t that I aVioau^ tilnV to ^It In Vaah- 
ti'a i tt.i v-ou aro ia t'ue j nro 

V.CTO I X t>j^r- t, 3fj:ne -u ,;*d of 

higJ* i«/kiiOd; 8.>iia of you hftve j ri.ioea jlOjc vour alraa. 
I'vsri if I r;i..iuid -0 i,: oj-joe to thr- "ir.f;, i oc-ulJ nevor 
hope to \>& oallod t^^in.* 

;.lur .ah Lvi^ry voiOA^a oftr. rxope to !}(» oaliad -igain. 

Shar^XodR t ^iste those quiot '»OJ0Oii« 

i 'srjrcB All wo.T.3ri ^oh otJier iii tho ;• •r'eir,, 

iT'irb^m Tni-'-t'c tr- . 

aiiC' "ft r. ! 
a. ' 



6. 

Cfia-ib, To-nlpht Ahaauoriifi rtXl receive a led;' of tha haroin, 

H©gal rid the ring oal^ Ay bj- hiir nar-ie? 

Chwnb. ::<■). ?o-nie'lit, the ' ir^ desires p. r-t»w benat:'. 

Shnnfoda let m«i po, Hojjp-i* 

Porlaado fo, rae, 

r^urbann I «r« In tho noot' f.or '.Lot**, 

i?r.r.rii8 or loving. . ..jiieriis v^ould forget 

Vjiiii.ti, tiw atato, tiiS v/orj. , j^enei'ibor only love. 

. lhr:-,f»,h ^•?t n& i^ Hefff.->i, ( ;'he putti nejr :■.^•. .a about his neol". ) 

yoii ehall bo nj» j\hH»u«i*u3« 

Uofjfil {'J '. .,=> v.or ariiB r:'o::i .>-.bout £t ie /Uma- 

ij.r-;. >;ls6.ifl iU'-'jc-i* iioprai, not ao I'ridBoa 

>rtdr ^.ivisuorua. 

Shnnfoda rs-f^r t^iO 71iie'« capon ©row. 

, -rit^i'8 be troatad who ottov y:.Qii thoir 

oriaad© iio.-n aro ;*oa ivolnjj to sand, ji«gf'.l? 

All Yea, Wi.c? I'o.'j, wjiov Yog, v/ho? 

iiftgAl "St)v0r« 

Sharov' c5'''ni|*?o , 

ftisd the)- avo 1 rown it. 

otiiiara."' •. . ov -;.«.V'*c^'^ 

^:'army3 'f>lle '•'« C'».n ohoogo h*»? ofyl.-"- ono»»* u»-sr* tlrr.a. It mwat 

or roi*r 

., ether (StartiiifV £roji a rriverlo) You cailod? 

Hegal rh3 'iii,? reoeivds to-nijjht» 

Charib. • da l& I'^pftfcier.t, Coo. .'rsp.aro ii-^i' ra^Mdly. 

iio,r;^.l li'xJ.^t ■-..-. hc' -iff** houBO. 

Charrib. ' "ia well . 



t i->Xor ' l.i to the 



7, 



• ether 
r'eriaade 
Shanfoda 
llhririah 

' RrtTkye 
nrTyimi 

iJop;ni 

; orlsado 
. Ihmah 

F.uther 

:-.8t.lier 
rather 

i. ether 



■'0 ^~ou thlrir i'oa re so l^ofisiollul^ :'f 



doriiing? 



It '?!'l.ll t*iV.o m€ thr©o houra to mo>s? rac-ali- -^.Ma rr:. turn 



..1 r\&&l "■.no':" •■■':CT'*» 



.o;ita 



I/O (r'<3':!t- o.iW >!li*A'« 



'.(M-i.^i^, wuo-.i your ijurii oui.-«e, you ahnll hiivo i\3J. yoa 

neft^ . *'r'-',' "•<?:' "'"'t r*»?'!rf* tr ^c-nr ca^'*. '-T^ t;"n'".t she 
;■;■ noT 

«lO"ie, . iiirr!:nii. 

I '■•-i.U- ,1 . ' . ■ '• ,'...'. 

n^^Tiit the '*At.Ui,5 Oj' wo insjr<;>- &H&iitB* 



"t 3 s tV.ft ou 



•x'li other I 

^■«nj. <ifi.jiire ahal.l h© 
o.t.' t'm '(v'Of.ou to the 



>.'iir roho ia ^Ir-uil- . *.oh sil" n, ith 

o. ibrolaoj:*;', ^^^ .,i. o;; .i^^*: ■.-i. ;i, *.<'- <- 

ly^Htkty iiiM't; . i. rir.d th© ;il;-;ii09t J'fW. . 

ring. 

A3 I *iin, «5o wUl 1. f^o ai'to Aiifiaurtrue* 

Th«n I wj L 7our women to plait ;j?our iiair ruicl tiat 

your i'»>c.- ■ lO :i'cur o^-ed ta-.l t.'M3 '-'l.-jr: nti;^' tt] c noro 

cloll|Prnt w<t«n u« looVij apo't you* 

A© I a."!, no will X ■ 3, ;":ll : r^y 

cht^o' a, no bl.'icl' (i. ^ vjirlet . . .• 

■^ liiit CJod hns larivoii tiirj thnt i will /5lve to .JU4«ttorii»« 

""•h.*tt "od lyis ^'Ivtsi-j ^;oa i;o ,;^JL*e ^iaiii^ruu id foore tl^an 
mi^r vro^nPiY) j-f>t hna r^lvan or ovor wiii. 

■■'r't tlo you :!;oa/u 



de^ai .. ■ ;:i out; Xofc^.^>r} 

£i^>.^ai *^?>'wi it* 

ilathor • - >s ymu'.aj "All Ih .".tn no. ' Oo'^ ! "'hnn> 






-•sther 
J'.athar 



:''ltc:^ 






•;■»••=> j-iirn. 



Vf* i , I , e, -« 



(^ more • 



;iiKi A-'v'»-6n«jr'.'.« wl = V'-:>. < . vi cut) '''ro-^oii, 

no«>,<«i« X t'U^xV I'Qii J \»r nil fefV»it» .you hi^.vii ■•:;t* rne« 






a or OUT 



aOo"** up aiid iii;^^»■l«iilj«» ouii hnr hn.ncl) 
')1U v;cman WJio art t)\ou? 

Old Wofna/i 3 Mthori it it* n 0>e.Ati na/'te A.'id *\ oweot ,^fc«# ;Vhith«r 

v:<;03C t/iOU? 

Jiathor (OantJLy) .1 e'^ ■'•/^i to the- Xing. 
I went In to t.-w 









aC? E. o(" 



:u 



In the ooMtor l» a goldeji bedstft'id ovor which hfta?8 a 
life also x^ortrnit of VnaJitl. 



At one Bide of t'nr* ^*' 
goldon bowl8 fillOv ... 



Is n ^old aorviiio; t^iblo with 
iiiid golden flngona of wine, 
fruit, ©to. 



Joarer tho footll'*ht8 thmi the bedj In tho oontor of 
the otae:« la 30 1 ft t«bl© on onoh &i0.c> of whlc'i sold on 
oouohoa .'^re plnood. 

At ft tnblo by thft aid© alta a Sorlbe dreaaod Ifi bl.HO> 
who vTTltoB continually on a aheot of parotiiiont. 

AlMiBuorua la dlacoverod with 'U^t?i« and Ter«oh In ftt- 
tondwioo on 'nim under tho dlrootlori of the cha'.borlHln. 
Ho roollnoa on n oouco and ie wnahldf^ hla hjii^ula. 31g- 
tan poiira wntor ovor thofi froc: a goldon evwr into a 
goli'on baaln wliioh Toroah holda. "A third . nnnoh at^mds 
with a tovi-el in rondinoss, two to ofto/i ocuoii, --^^ '.'^.o- 
Infj tijert by tho aide of tho tablo» 



vhaaa* 

Chanb. 
Ahaeu 

ChaTib* 

Ahftsa* 

Char?b • 

AhftSU* 
Ovarib • 

Ahaau. 



(Inpntiently ) HftatenJ prepare tho ropaat. (lie taloa 
tho towoi jmd be^f^lna to dry hla hnrtda on lt> n>y doe a 
t)io woinan tnrry whon Ho»ijai h-.a ohoaen for no to-uif':ht? 

She will be hero directly, Siro. 

Am I a 8erVf\nt In toj' house that I ahoiild wait? (He 
flljifja down t>io towel) "fr aw i lord, of lifo and death 
whora a3.* obey fit once? 

(Plo>a up the towel' Tho Inatant your ilajeaty^s ootrtnand 
waa honrd, tlio Veoper of tJio women iMtde preparation; to 
obey It. 

■■■)iat ia 8ho li7:e? The wor.ian whon ho aonda? ,4' eyas 
athirat to-iii,^'it for wor^an's face nnd form, m: aria are 
htmf^ry to enfold hor after thoir :iO;vg atarvntion, Xa 
aho vori" f.-'-lr, this worian WiOi':. ilefjnl haa 3olectod? 

:iy '.loi^o, eJiO ia rno.iJt fftir. ?alr na th.^ tendor ^avm; 
her aT in la f Hirer thf\n any vyor.au 'a X }i;ivc over aoon« 

Hor hH ir - what of hor hair? 

Hot brow.i or blao! or atained with henim; but ^old, 
aa if the aun hjid got ontarigled In ita ooila. 



Your worxH-a liifl.'^.me jn^^ lnu.«-,tio..c^ 
To iiofjall Bid him haatori tULa 



.old 'uer. Gel 

to lO. 



2« 

Ah?\au« Ttio blood bttrns hot within {%' velna to-nle;ht. It will 

\mm hotter still if sUo'a aa isenutlful aa ho tleaoriboa, 

ilferian (Off) Say to tltxi '^ing that Iianfui, son of fiiriOdntH, la 

hero» 



Voloooff i rlnoo, th« F.lng Is prlvnto v.t thle hour* 

Harian (Off) Po «a I bia thee. Say r'rino« Hnrtnn walta wlti*- 

out. 

Ahaaa* (t.oo'b upi Hhat ia tlv^t ooniliot lii the outer oonrfc? 

Servant i^ LlotTO, Prlnoo Uarian. 

(F, l^K!? .I."J a:*, oonlng pftat 

ila! lan i :y "^Ic-jfe. 

Ahaau. ?houJ I hf\vfi not aurvoiiOii tUoi^. ;v v/Jiat rlgiit tloat 
thou intrude tl)i/ pretjouoo or. no t iua ' 

Haman My T,l«gre, th« m«ttor la moat urj^^iit or Haijan would not 

firms thrnBt him ;!*ir into th« c^ldon proaonoo of the 

:-?lyidov; of Ood upon l-rirth* 

Ahaan* Whnt la thia urjf^ont r>intt«r tliat brlii^e tho<i aaro at 
thle tino of tho nlf:ht? 

Hanan lii' ^l«^fT<>j there la « oortnlrt r.eoplo aontterod anongr tho 

njfitlona In all the i>rovinoo3 of tho J>V;-iro. 

Ahfiau. vTvtt of t)i0m? 

Hanan It la xiot to tlie xinfj'e ndvmitnpra to tolernte then In 

tho St".to» !?hor aJiowld bo doHtroyod. 

Ahasu* ]5at the; nro nanj'. A whole people, "i^ouid not tlio 
atnto auffar b: tholr deiitruotioj^i'^ 

Hnman They ere a profltloaa people. T)i©y do not \if\lV nocrr''- 

ing to cnr Invra, but hr tholr own. 'The^- h-^vo nc 
in our ouatona, onlj' in their own. Thoj* do not 
tho King. 

AhJiaii. ,Iot aervo t>ie King? 

Awon .To, lii' 'le<70. They aervoi neither our ' 

Goda. Then they ae« nn, tho; nrlt v'r. 

aa;* ve are ixnoloan. 

In r?m^rl'^'"> to onr e- 

onr d;» - . The ■ 

oall n ir".;'. 

O'Ul r 'HU to 11 H. 

'•'f'^^ V : Oil WJilC^ 

X* iH)0! a, lni;e:' 
o o'.'r !\iil.'>ra. 



r 


our 






!?r, 


p "^ 


■:>a 








tors 




^ 




. .ai 






> 


•^» 








,;-ie 








ir 








t;3 



3. 



the Sabbath Day on which the C-rent God roat<'a." 

Ahastt. How dnro the^' place their God nbove our God? 

Haroan iut tJmt ia not tho worst they say, f\a the polden ears 

of Ah'suorns would hear if ho could hoar th-irn spon>. 
They cry, "ilay this foolish linp-Aori be blotted from 
t}io' World . " They pray nnd BUpplioHte th-it tho >'ing rnny 
die and his povorni lent bo destroyed. 

Ahaau. lyhatl 

Hanan When their Mngdon was yet stnndint^, there aroijo n rinr. 

araong tho.a w/ioae nane v/aa David. !r7/o parts of ue he 
Irillod and rooted out, and one pnrt he left. ")f those 
he loft, he made servants. After hli'i rotjo up ono of 
the Kings wjio waa thy ijredooeaaor. iiia name wvs :iobu- 
chadnorizar. He went ajfainst tho^ , d^atroyeci t i.^ir terr— 
pie, plundered their city and led them into c^vptivity. 
Still, they are hiph apiritod and have not f^iven np 
their hait.iT it ineos till now. 

Ahaau. We must curb their pride. 

Ha).)an * Aye, r\y '".ie^je, it neoda curbing. The^' »>■.;■, .ts ^ru t,:c 
children of renov/ed fathers and -"e have never subjooto 
ourselves nor bowed to Vii.ga, neither iiave V7e obyod |';ov- 
ermnonts. i.ore; thoy send 1 jttera to every place xsTinf 
for prajera to their Ood that tho ./in:p: laay die nnd that 
our rule r.ay be destroyed. All this thoy do in secret. 
The 7inc has no advantn^^e in tolerating the-, or allov;- 
ing: them to exist. 

Ahasu. If all thia be true, they are a menace to tho land, 

HajTian They are a menace and, li>o ever^- other raenance, shoul. 

be rortod out. If it plo-^se the I^lngr lot hin write an 
order for their oxtomination atid I v;ill pay ten thou- 
sand taloijta of silver from my troaaury to the Zing's 
to compensate for them. 

Ahasu. It ia a large sum to pay for so profitloas a people. 

aaman How oar. one offer leas to the ahadow of God ui)on Larth? 

Ahasu. Thou hast no right to sell them, nor has Ahasuorus right 

to buy them. 

ivmf\n But Biiall v^e anffor the:-, to plot t'.gainst the King and 

pray thnt he may die? 

Ahaau. If they are aa thou sayeat, the silver is given thee and 

the people 7?ith it to do as aoems beat in thy sight. 

ua -a/i I than>: theo, Hhjidow of God upon Earth. ;iow will X have 

a proolapintion dravm. 

Ahasu. (TaVing off his ring tuiA giving it to Kanan- dere is 

my ring to seal that proolai-jation that the ;vorld may 



Inow thftt Hajian aota bi' order of the /.ijig. 

(KilTER THP-. CHAJ.iBKRT.AlN) 

Chamb. My Tilo^e, the Indy whom thou didst oor/ai^d ia here, 

Ahasu. At laatl ( ?o Hnnnn) Oo, frlond, see to It t/iat these 

people VGK not m:" preaonoo any I'loro. 

Hat-tan My Liege, I go. (Hamnn too s low mid exits) 

Ahaau. Bid tlio 1,-wly enter. 

Chamb. (Bowa aiid exits) 

Ahasu. (Pata his right hand to his Torohoad and drawa it acrosa) 

So lot me wipe away all thoughts of state (xnd. reue uer 
only love. 

(KHTKH CH.4i-.aEn-.Air) ahovlfii- in ■■;■-:■) 

Chainb. The lady Esther. 

>:8ther (Curtaioa low) My ^lege. 

Ahaau. ('^Msea hla ha;id to Blgtan and Tereah who are vratoliln^^ 

him. They go, one to oaoh side of Kather, taV© her nnn 
and raise hor up) 

Ahaau. (Bows) fcly lady. 

(TJKPF.sa and BIGTAN retire into the bucrpround) 

Ahaau. 3y Mithrn, but yon are gord to lool'^ Ujon. They told me 

you were heautiful, but thoy did you vrong. They told 
me you rere fair as the tender Ayivmi but thoy did you 
wrong, your beauty la resplendent as the noon. 

Esther i'y JAoget* 

Ahasu. Thy eyes ma>e my eyes alavea to thine, r can: ot see 

thee for their ahinlng. 

lather ( Drops hor eyes) 

Ahaau. riay, do not dro, thj' eyoa, raise tJie: to nine th'-.t I 

may feaat upon them. 

£;8ther (Halaing her oyoBJ 1 a;^, a loyal subjeot of the King 
and my eyes obey the diotatea of n^- lord, 

Ahasu. Thy thront ia 111 e a tower of ivory ad tJi^- boso s li: e 

tv/in alabaster v sea onrvod by the sculptor's sT ilf ull 
hands. Thou haat ensnared my heart ;is no vvonaji has, 
ainoe Vaahti queonod it there. 

Esther In the woman's court, they say no lady ever yet compared 

with Vaahti in Ki/ir Ah'isaorus* eyes. 

Ahasu. ^h.^.^^n>.. i;.^ ^oae in my garden of love, nv.v tfio;. rrt tiie 



&» 



: at)ior 

Ahaau . 

Irflther 
Ahnaa* 

Ahnsu. 

UiQBU • 

Ahnsu* 

rather 

Ahaeu * 

I athor 

Ahasu • 

" ?oroah 
Kather 
Aliaan * 



illy* 1-hv^ a' in is v»5iite na is tho iil^'a ahv^en; tiv 'af^^r 
ia no t'ri3 fTOl'-l®'''^ st-^-lTs wltliin its -' . ■■•■'- -rofith 
na . rr.igrnnt aa it a i.orfiiioe on the t; . Wlioro 

didat thou S'Ot thj- beftiity, r' ■ m >. •- .,i o- Who 

aro tr4' XHjOxle? '»T^h'it ia th, l/eil me thnt I 

ma;," do g;ood to theci beoauae oj. ull<3^^• 

-'y lege, X oaruiot toll. I (an ignorsuit of wy i«^^>, iu- 
and nv fm'iily, for vhan [ w?is a llttlo c Jld, mi f anther 
and my mother died ft<.U left m©» 

Tjien v;ill I do {:ood to ail the /i;'&i..>ii=3 .vno i'.vni.fj, ben«ath 
ro^- rule t5i^it I nn^ be oortrln of Aoia,? ^ood to tho X'oo- 
plo of t/iO wor.a/i I love. 

1)0-^8 the Klner love lather? 

I lovo thoe arid I will pled fa t\ .».o\"t« o tKr.i;^ r.o 

Oha:^borl nin i Wlno • 



(At the baoJc to '<:M^?*.n ?wid Terosh) 



no 



(Takea up the flagon oontaining tJie wine, 
f i .gor to hia lli'S to enjoin ailo.noe ,• 



rata his 



In njr Kfj^.T'tittn goblet of f-rlnaa. (?o .''ath«r; .t xa X'io 
inost prooioua th-it I liavc: - Tliat X niaj' do fittini^ 
honor to tho moat prooioua woiimi In the land. 

(?H>.oa a phlftl fror the breast of iiia ttuiio arid poara a 
little into the goblet, the^; qiiicMy puti^ tho phial 
baoV: ij^to tho bro^at of his dreaa, lifta the 
on w}iich the .i-obl-Ttt ia imuI brinra it dom to 
boglna to ; our tho wine into it) 

?Uili Fiilll To the bri!?i# (iie ta' t^a Xho: (TOilot. "he 
two r'lon move b.''ieTvy.-.ri.!a) 

■rhe Ting dririVa to Lath^^r. 

(r'ith her loft hjwid oatohoa tiie King's rt^ht fcroairf?* and 

arreata iila movejuont} with her right '<■ > anntohea 

the -o'oJ.et frcn him thr-.t «ome of tliO ; . .lla "^o 

not drinT:, m^ "^.iege. 



(dotting angry) '''.oat thou 
t'lieo to anatch the vfino ou]: 



paaaj.' 



Aye, mj'- 'lege, X daro do an^'thlrjg to save tJiy life. 
The wine ia poiaonod. 

Poisoned I 



(At the bncT a tart Juid whlaixitr together) 

Poiaonod. 

Ao-^ doat thou Irnow? 



6. 



Ksthor Iiload tiils, ray Lioge. 

Ahasu. (rlomla) "All la well with rje» '^^o of tho King»a !-mi- 
uoha who ftttond him )iave plotted to 'ill hlri to-iiifTHt 
by THttliif* viOiaor; Into hi& wImc. I cvor-'/'-nl the;. •\8 
tJiey 8po'o« -^t thla Vnovslod ;o to t^ ni3 save 

hie llfo» Tlii' uncle wno Icvea tlioo, i»" How 

do«t thou Vnow tiiMt whftt la vrlttfti; horo la true? 

lather If ilort^aoal anj^a it» i will awoar It. 

AliABU* (T'lVoa t>io r^lne oiij- JTroti her* Calla to tho ■ 

irin.^ ■• .0 ariotMor cvij'* (7o .Kathor) Olve r:o ■ 

Chanb* (Brings cIoto\ ouit) 

AhGBtt. (Poura oi»t v?ino Tron one phobic t Into tho other, r-lvoa 
both £;ob3,ot8 to the CK^jborl^iln) How bid the , drink. 
XX tlje wine be polaonod, tl'.e.^^ t«11I die here. In ttij^ 
jtreaenoo • 

Toroah f^; 

ijls^tan (Both at art and nf»."<?» towftrds the door' 

Alifiau. Stand atlll and iiove not. 

Kather ?eo hov? they troiible at tho tliotight oX :')e«th« I© not 
t/iat proof enough? 

Ahnau. 3id thPin Ariny » 

: other 'lot h-^ro, ray "lege. Mot here I I ooald not bo«».r to a- 
tJien dlo. 

Ahaau. So be It. (To tho cliariberlaln i i-'rove IX tho v^lne be 
priiaonod bv aone 9ub3to teat* 

Chanbo ('J\*>.'08 ft phlal frov, tho t-ible ftiid pours "\\9 

wine) i^i^ Llejje, It ia the poison of t)v> ♦ 

3ea ho^' tho red la turned to f^re^m. 

Ahneii. TttVe the; i to the outer court .Hm^ nr' e fimm drliv 
wine nnci brln^ no word vhe.-; It la done. 

Charrib. ( ">bel8anoo( kaj' the Kltig live .for ov»-«r. 

(yilT CJiA-Aij v^lth the two luen) 

Ah«ati. Thou h^at anvoA ny life. 

lather Dot l^ my ''loffo, ny Unole Jlordooal. 

iUifiaa. iiordooal. i.orueoftl. f:*"^ turna to the forll-K^^ "rp.^ 
In tlio Boo' of the ■^nj of 1 

rordeoftl and hov/ ho i^ life 

it. 



FatJior Shall I be tho '/lnp*a cupbearer ftnd brlnfr hlra vflne? 



7. 



Ahasa* rial . oennty ahall be rny win© to-nl^ht« X will 

drln' t xoo Ineta'id of wlne« (He tiin\B to tlio Sorloo ' 
la It written fta X oori'«inued? 

Sorlbo /^'©, my T,l«^e« 

Ahnon. !Chon oloao tho booV. arid po» 

iiorlbo (Cio8oa t/i© bool , riaos aM bows) 

(L;!?.:--: c 

Chai;ib» 2'y '.lopo, tho;/ clmnV ♦ 'rh07*ro doful. 

: sther So pt^rlBh ell who plot Hg^alnst tho Vln^* 

Ahaaa* (To oiiafiberlaln ) CtO* Draw tho eurtftlns, olotio the 
doore* I would he private. 

Chai^ib* fSj(iy8 fco ,5^r,Ard3 who withdraw* mo i<r?-.wt3 ino oiirT iiia, 

exits, oloot->8 tho docrol 

j.haau* {iia turn« to hflr. mid holdc out hl8 ariia; TTiOti imat 

eaved my llXe, thou illy oi* Shusiuvi, iiow ahnll £ rov^-rd 
the©? 

. athor To eavo the Kln^'a llfo la rov- ^rd onoiiQih* 

Ah'isu. For tho<5, but not Tor mo. £ will Imtifr theo v;lth ,jow- 
ol8» dool' theo with proclouo /[^ems* 7!fion ahalt have 
slavoa to niiraber with eiKch day oi." tho i^eftr. 

: sther Slaves and prena and ^ewola ina>e not b woman's happlneae, 
mj' f;l©g:e« She aeeda other thlnpra. 

Aha8i2» ^lat other thln^^? 

Father The ocrir^on thlrif^a of llfo, the tJiliifrfl the h >^:p:r'.r 
wltii tho >'liif:, - tht* lov<j of Ixuaotmd, ohlldi'on, . 

Ahaau. I will tIvo thoo lov© a. id ohlldron, frlohda. If thou 

doat love rne. 3)oat thou lovo mo? 

^ atner When tho Yiiie; oos^nanda, iila aubjeota muat oho;> ♦ 

Ahaau. I oa/. ooif!; land obedloiice, Toalty, fidolltv, but ovon t 
oannot oomi-and a worniiji ' a ao^irt. l")08t thou lovo rfiO'-' "* 

Kathar r,et tlio -'Ing lay the eara of hla heart to rult'o and hoar- 
Von to whet It epeaJcs. 

..jti'^au. (?alo8 hor In hie arris ) ...y itoart to tlilnoi \Vht\t dooa 
It Bay? 

i' ether 



( rromblln^r in iila ^rj-.a • 

I BfiV- tJ-l^ f :.0O, ny I'V^O 



nover saw a nan to lovo p -til 



8. 

Ahaau* Say It <if?aiii. i^ot fta a dubjdot t«> hor 'lego, but ua n 
wowan to a i.an. Say those worda again. 

.'atiior I novt'^r anw a mai\ to love, until I shw tii. i isc. 

Ah?»8u» i''^'' wcrian qno0n» i.j'^ qiiooii of wonon* Aa mo; to rio, an to 

X >iiool to thof»« (iio Tnoolfl to Iior) ■:"]i:' '-r .3 >-.boiit fny 

nooT • '\Hiao iir. 'to tino vhlto vnlj.o^v' 01 tiiy 

broaata* HenH %■-. led mouth to dli^o that £ nay 

drlnV onr?\ptitro(?. xro ita wi/iO . 

:-.3thor (I'iaaos hin) 

Ahaau. ^'^-ainl /i^ainl 'Dio ix- ri 11; ") of thy broo.tli oasu reo tn; 
aenuoij, thou Illy wodfyi ox my life. Kiaa no nc^^-lnl 
Agalnl (Ho ta' ea hor in hla nrto '\;»<l rlBoo) So do I 
Viaa tiioe. Let ne bruiao th^- tr,v>uth with rjiji©» rJion ah?^ 
alt boaicio Aliaauorua on ;ile tlirone am! llo boaido Ahaa- 
uorua kn hia bed* Thou aiinlt be Queen, - snj' Quoonl 

lather (Bitterly) The '.]\ieeii of a nlg;htl 

Ahaau. not of a nigjht* vlueeri of all nighta amd .i" nil iIm; a 

as wall. There la no other woman to < .00, 

Y«iehti '*HS Fiy sc'irlet (.ueon but thou, 
aiiHii; iny lily ijieen - thoii aiialt rttlo jv ii-'o, (.ueon 
it over the 1' u":,'*xlor * a/id over ne. 



i8t)ier :^hall I be Queen anif Vaehti's xjioture ha»ig above t>3j' 
b«d? 

Ahaau* ('jOo's nt Jicr 'M.d aiilos) So f'iOii art jonloua; Joai- 
ouo oven of lior picture-. wt>?.iousj' la aureiit i-rol'/x of 
iovo. r^addt thou :;0t co/ireHaed thy love, I ijiiould 
have T'nov.7. It by tiioae v/orc'a. Before tliou Host by rny 
aido to-<iI.^iit, }ior pioturo ohe-ll "fje ta'^en tjovm tllf.t even 
her x«tiJf^ted oyea may not boi:old t>^ rR}>ture of our love. 

£ether Ky T,leg«, a criomont alnco thou dldat offer i^e a prlft aiui 
r refused it. j'fow I f*.&V it of thee. 

Ahaau. '.Thfit wouldat thou have? '^ia tJilno. 

I-.ather A pal/ited xdoturo of myself tliat I may give it th^o to 
h&jxr:. tibovo tl^.' bed • 

Ahaau. Thou star of my life, it ahnll be raj' tallasrian by nlrht 
to {r\U3.r& h\^- life na thou div rd rrii/ life to-/iight; 

and, iu the day, iny memory ; , un I looT uuon it, t 
nay res-io bor It wm,8 thou viiu) aavv^d ny life. 

^.atiicr i.^'- '■.lege. 

Ahaau. l^^ ^^een* (ao placeo orov/,\ on her head) So do I jprown 

theo ."uoen of ny :;Anrf, ^uoor. of :';y ifo, queen of ny 

'^inT'ion, ;ue' r*, Aiuiauorue* ;;ueen. (He talrea her 

in hla am-ia. '^> 



A anall room in the x'bIhoo of H?v"»%n. I'here Ifl « 'oor 



Oil one sii>a hM n pr'-otic'-blo , t t.**? i 

which tiio «t«vr Btr^-v^'ii a^i^ la & the r.c 

3tre?«i3* O.'i a trtblo iu tr.e ooi^l-^^f .il'.i'ia - 

ll^-l^htod lar p. At the tnblo alts :5hari8hfti, t^ 
ogor, vrorMiiC out hla o<^lotU. itlone* 



iieh 



a 



At one sitio oY. t'i« t 'bis In ".ftroah, nar-an'B wii'o, and 
nt tho othor the table wutohlryaj 

with eaf^ftr, h. , ml l« uolng. 



SeroBh He would not beml tiie Vn.Tie to thoo? 

Haiaan As I tolu theo; - aiojiO, ho stood uprlf^ht; dofiod r?ift to 

mi' face - thoi.ifjh all the others Vnolt. 

Serosh Ho rauat bo vory brnvo« 

iiwnan H^» la verj' arrognjit, but I will ojrtiaiii lile ny^o.^'irice; 

oruBh hin mg woll tiri}. nil hla pooiao, tO( • X hate thoae 
Jowo ai.u will deatrov thoin - all. That la why x. htaiQ 
.Sha:'vah'\l o-ut t/ie lot, that I ma:" Vnow tho a.,-v. iiro. i- 
tlouo ior tho ciflod* 

-"ereah Thou art Irooruiod inrtoed A/vAlriSt this , crdooai ir .for 
hl3 enVo tiiou oanat coat the lot to aoatro/ t!io v.Tiolo 
nation of which he l3 but one. 

Hainan I hato hi.j a^id booauae of hlr. I hate tr.or .'••..'5 tlio r-ifu?;!- 

ci<%ae o£ old h-itod theri vrhon t/ioir j.rr jft.s rj^.^viled 
against the vfia!:^at ;;'ien of %ypt. 

Seroah 7h^' powor is f^roat na tic mi^»:ar. riiou art t)i« j irat; «inn 
In all the world who ever bou^jht a nntlon, 

UttTian I bout^ht tho:, to destroy- thWi. ;;ot ten tno«;v.,:" f ..i- 

o.its of ailver, imt ton thoi'sancH tiiuoe ton t 1 , - 

ont« would I hnve .flT-.;n thnt I • i -it .;! ; o f- 
off the -fHoo of tho earth. 

3ero8h ?leroo la thj- }v\to, as vAxy love la ii.*rco. 

Hainan Piercer ia my hato fw» t-ie Jawa t>ian la wi* love for 

theo. Tiow cftnst thou ' o- i^nre tho tiepth of my h»iite« 
(Ho turna to ohm ^jhal • stand now //i.th jour enolmnt- 
menta. SiwaJr. iiavo yoa cp.3t the T of> 

Sho.".8}ial f hivo. 

;iereah Are voti re«(?^' to reftd th<9 annw-r^r-' 

Shainahal X ai:t. 

Honan Wliat eay tho a tars . 

Shamahal "^on Jtnow the novoments of the atnrs h'-.vo iriHitrt c>,^ ..■^'.■>y 
the life of piftn. 



Hainan 

Hanan 
ZoroBh 

Haraan 

2©roah 

Shamshai 

iiaman 
Sharoshai 

){at:ian 
Sha-,8h«l 

Sharahai 

Uanan 

Shall {3hal 

iiaman 

ShainBhal 

HaT^an 

Shsnahal 

Harnan 
Sh8ms)\al 



( Imptitientiy ) X 'now. £ ' i.ovfm i'hHt do thft.v say? 

Yo«i alBo ] iow that tiiO atnre do not lie. 

I Icnow* I Imow. (i-.ore Itrjiiationtiy) 

THifit i5(\:: tiio atare? 

Stand up, star graaer, and toll mo w)«it the atara r«vonj • 

(t'lvo iou lonrnt all that we aa^od o£ yon? 

(T2iaing) .\yo, 32' aonrohlnfr the notion of tho stare i 
the oaleatla]. manaion X liave deol/phored ^h>\t I'on aeeV* 

?heii t«ll ine qwi»>l • . 

TiiO rirat day ol' tlie wee'- ia iuipropltloua for tiiia 
projoot Tor on it' the ^rOO. or fiO ^'ev^^a cvr" v.t >.l tr,o 
Jleavona and tho }-arth» 

\Ti\f\t of the seoojid day? 

TfV'»t la improrltiona, too, for o. it th<? ^Irr^anent was 

rr,aao« 

Tho t)ilrd? 

£t mai' not bo upon tuo tiiird "or on It the f^nrnH.'. o.r 
Tdon v/aa crontod. 

■"Iiy toll th»=) ajipropltiOLie liHi'S? All I vwuit to ? iiow la 
tJ'iO propitious day. ^all nte not Mh-.t la 5iol Jocj^aa.' sit 
what i8» 

"'hnt is not la .".a well i)ooroed na whnt la. Tho one 
must be rovoalod aa woil no the othor. ' vi^-. :;='"a.; iyi;-:d; 
be patient. 

C have no p-\tlonoe. ' 'tl -jon stoovl there, the ri d 

of the 'ifie. *^'id been dei'led hy a Dog oiT a Jew, ^ ... 
7;oiad be Impatle-'.t, toe, xo Irabriie yottr handa In the 
hlood oi* h4^ and all hla people. 

The lorj{jer Jiainan 3peR>a, tho longer do5>8 '.'• ' -aAr; ,>-)a- 
tho 1 noT^ledfjo t2mt the atara Youchaafe. 



vvrio/-. X thlri' ajiOi'i T-i. 
fiiul Witat tixey tell. 



, I Jfor,^>ot even tf^a etara 
on and let rao Jiear. 



?he Tonrth day la Torbidden, for Oii it tlio Bt^., .....w . 
the aoven Stars mui t/«) twalvo Plnneta wero orentod. 

?hen the fifth? Surely the fifth 1« favorable. 

Hot ao, for on it were c 

000- oi" tlie V/O'.Mi. '1; i , 



Ha"Tan 



?'ie 3l;:th d.*v 



3. 



Shamshai "in it the Jev/lah God croated man find woi:an. How then 
should Haman provail against the Je\'ish man and woman? 

Harnan If not the other aix, then the aovea.th? 

Shamshai The seventh day is the Covenant between the word of 
their Lord and the people of Israel . 

Haman Then, is no day of the week propitious for ray purpose? 

Shamshai The stars vouchsafe no day; so I cast the lot by Fionths. 

Haman T7ell, what says the lot by them? 

Shamshai {Gives Haman a scroll) Here is t.-ie record of thoir 
months. Follow it with me. 

Haman Tell me the lot. That is wnat I crave to know, ("oo^s 
at scroll and ruiis his finger dc n the list) Ten 
months you've marked as unoropitious for my purpose, 
what of the other tv/o? 

Shamshai In the eleventh month, Shebat, the first fruits of the 
orchards are offered to their Lord. 

Haman Eleven unpropitious, w?iat of the twelfth? 

Shamshai That is the month the stars point out. 

Haman The last at last I Show me this month w^'on the chart. 

Shamshai (Pointing with his finger) It is here. It staijds be- 
neath the fishes. 

Haman Now are the Jows caught by my hands, like the fish of 
the sea. 

Shamshai Adar is the name of the month. 

Haman Tell me vhat is the day. Have you deciphered that? 

Shamshai Aye, I have deciphered that. The tiuirteenth of the 
month. 

Haman By Mithra, that is good. The thirteenth of Adar. 'Tis 
vvritten in my lieart . 

i'^eresh And in my brain. 

Haman (To Shamshai) Go summon Scribes that know the langu'^.ge 

of each of the huiidred and twenty and seven provinces 
that make up the King's Empire tii.Ht they may write the 
proclamation thnt /rives these accursed Jews into our 
hands . 

Shamshai (Bows) It shall be done and quickly. 

(.■:ait s-d\.skua) 

Zeresh And when triou hant rritten, hov; will tiie jcople knovy 



4. 



Harnan 

Zeresh 

Haman 
Zeresh 

Hainan 
Zeresh 



Haraan 
Zeresh 

Haman 
Zeresh 

Haman 
Zeresh 

Haman 



the proolamation to be trua? 

(Showing the ring on his finger) Here is the King's 
ring which the King has given me to seal it. The thir- 
teenth of Adar. Now, Dog of a Jew, thou Shalt lose thy 
head becauHO thy tnees were too jiroud to bend. 

'Vait not until the thirteenth of Adar for some other 
hand to slay him; let hid not live to refuse to bow 
the 1 nee to thee again. 

What dost tliou me.'qn? 

Slay him thyself. His ^ nees would not bend, then let 
his necT' breal . Let a gallows be made and hang him on 
it. 

( Adriirinply exalted) Thy hate is fierce ?''.s mine. 

1^'iercar than my love for thee is my hate for any who 
defies thee. Make the gallovs now; and high. Thou art 
the greatest man in all the land. Thereiore, let the 
gallov/s be hi,jher than any ever built. Let it be fifty 
cubits high that all within the city walls may see hira 
as he riangs, mid trenble to bow down to thee. 

I am the greatest in the lajid, bnt I am not lord of 
life and death. Ah.'.saerus still is King. He only has 
that power. 

That pover shall be thine if thou art br ve enough to 
taVe it. Thou dost sit at the ri?^ht hand of the throne, 
We will so plot that we shall kill Ahasuerus find some 
day tho;i wilt sit in the throne itself- Ahasuerus must 
give plaoe to thee. 

Thou art a man for boldness in thy plot. But till that 
day cor.e - 

Ahasuerus has given thee this people to do with as thou 
wilt, ae set no time for their deatrnction. What mat- 
ters then when you Till one of them? 

If I usurp Ahasuerus' porer no~\ his anger would burn 
against me and he migixt have me slain. 

Then go to him. This l.Iordscai has defied thee. Thou 
art the right hand of the Xing. In defying thee, he 
has defied the King. That means death, i^iasuerus will 
deliver him to thee. 



rt as subtle as the serpent, and as wise. I will 
rders for the gallov/s. i<^ifty cubits shal 



Thou art 

give or I 

height as thou didst say. 

our sons and at to-, orrow's dawn I^ll go to the King to 

ask the life of Mordecai, the Jev/. 



hall be its 
Let us go in to supper ;7ith 



OUETAXx^. 



ACT 
The Palace Gate's. 



SCJ'MK 2. 



On one of the pillars of the Gate is posted a oop;- of 
the procla/Tiation. 

It is dawn. 

Mordecai is discovered, hooded and cloa>ed, si-f-tnai.ig !r;o- 
tionless as if he had been waiti;ig for aorae time. There 
is a pause . He wears a gaberdine of sac> oloth which 
is rent on the left breast and iii« head is grey v/ith 
ashes. 



The Palace gate opens and Hegai ejitert 
cautiouslj', sees i.ordecai. 



He loors round 



Hegai (To iuordecai) She comes. (He looVs hp#; nods, and 
beoTons v;ith his finger) 

Esther (Coin?: to ilordecai) Uncle. 

ilordeoai Hy child. ( The^ embrace) 

Hegai Be brief and quick*. It is forbidden for the Queen to 
wall beyond the Palace walls. 

iJordecai The '^ueen'. She is my child. 

Hegai But she is Ahasuerus' :^ueen. he has set the royal crown 
upon her heed. It rdght be death were she discovered 
here, (rle tal^es up a position of watchfulness, look- 
ing from right to left) 

Esther I would have corno last night vhen I receivnd thy letter, 
but I did not dare, lest the King might call for me and 
I were not in my chaiiber to receive the sui.'imons. 

Mordecai Art thou the Queen and Aiiasuerus* slave as well? 

Esther ITo slave. Uncle. I am free. .Free as the bird you told 
me fle\7 into my riot her 's room the day I was born. 

Mordecai Yet unlike that bird, although the royal crown is on thy 
head, thou caiist not oomO and go afc t?iy ovm pleasure, 
but must obey the sam ons of the King. 

Esther Loyalty is not a matter of pleasure but of duty. A 

royal wife has duties to her husband just as the meanest 
woman has . 

Hegai (Coniiag to thera; Tall- not of '^inga and :iueens but of 
yourselves. Tiwe presses. (Heturns to his place) 

Esther Thou knowest it is decreed th^t none iT,ay cone to the 

Palace gates clothed in sackcloth, yet thou dost do it. 



2. 



Last night I sent iry oharberlain with rich garments to 
take thy sacl- cloth from thoe and thou didst roturn then. 

Mordecai Shall I v/ear rich garments in a time of laourning for a 
people who are doomed to die? (Points to it) There is 
the decree tteit bids the nations rise up against ns and 
destroy us. 

Esther J^'or ten thousand talents of ailver vAilch, thou didst 

write me, Kaman has j^romised to pay to the Xing. 

Mordeoai That is the price for which Ahasuorus has sold God's 
chosen people to this son of iii:ielek« 

Ksther If thou hadst bant the 1--noe to iia:.ian, his anger would 

not have been incensed against tiiee and through thee 
against our people and tiiis calardty would liave been 
averted. 7hy didst thou not Vneel to iiim. Uncle? 
Kneeling could not harm thee. 

Bordecai That is what the of/iers said. Art thou lile thern? Be- 
cause thou art Queen of Persia, wouldst thou be falso to 
the corni'iandi .ents of the God of tiv/ fathers? 

Esther -'fay, Tjnole . In the King's palace I obey the laws of 

Israel as I obeyed then; in thy home. What is thy will? 

iKiordecai Go to the King and intercede with him thut he may revoke 
this proclamation a/id so save our lives. 

i^sther Thou knowest th^t w]iosoever, v/hother man or woman vho 

is not called, shall cono unto the King into the iniier 
court, there is one law of hie - to put him to death, 
except S'lch to whon the King shall hold out the golden 
sceptre that he may live. 

Kordecai Well, what of that? 

Jvsther I have not been callod to coj-io in unto the Zing these 
thirty days. 

jiiordecai i'/hat of that? 

Ksther Vashti lost her life because she did not come when she 
was called. liay I not lose mixie if I go in unto the 
royal presence when I am not called? 

Mordecai What of that? Vfhat is thy life more tii8,n the life of 
an^^ other woman in Israel? Iven though the Zing hold 
not out his golden aceptro, still must thou go in unto 
his presence. 

Esther Jnole'. 

j.'ordeoai Thin> not that thou shalt escape in the King's house 
more tlian all the Jews. If thou dost escape Death at 
the King's hand, thou vrilt reot it -it Hnman, 

r.sther (Shuddering) Horrible i 



3. 



Mordecai Thej will drag thoo even rron the golden ar::S of Ahasu- 
erus and destroy thee. Therefore, do not neglect thy 
opportunity. If thou hold'st thy iieace at this time, 
then shall He who is the Holy ^ne cause enlarp:e.'ient and 
deliverance to arise to the Jews from another place but 
thou and they father's house shall be destroyed; who 
knoweth whether thou art coir.e to the Irln^dom for. such 
a tiKe as this. 

Esther Speak no I'^iore. I will do thy bidding. Go gather all 
the Jev;8 that are present in Shushan and bid the'- fast 
for me and neither eat nor drinT three days, night and 
day. I also ai:d my maidens will fRSt likewise; and so 
I will go in unto the ^ing wiiich is not according to the 
Law; and if I perish, I perish. 

Mordecai My child, if thou dost peri-sh in tids world, thou shalt 
have a portion in the world to come. (Ke embraces her) 
Thou art indeed a true daughter of Israel. 

Hegai . (Comes up to theri) The sun has risen. People are com- 
ing hither. V^e nust return at once within the Palace. 

Es^ther Farewell, Uncle. (She bends her head) 

Mordecai (Kisses her) J^arewell, my daughter. I Vnew thou wouldst 
be steadfast in the hour of affliction. (He pats his 
hand on her head) The Lord bless thee and preserve thee. 

(EXIT SyTH>:R and Hl^GAI) 

Jklordecai :Past for her tlirec df>ys and nights. (He tales the Shofar 
from his robe and blov-s it) 

(The Jev/o enter fron botli sides) 

Ben j . (Api^rehensi vely) 'Thet is the neaning of the blowing 
of the Shofar? 

Aaher Who is it blov/s? 

Simeon Mordecai. 

Ben j . What is the matter? You are clothed in sacKcloth. 

Abim. You have ?shes on your head. 

Abraham Your garments are rent as one who mourns. 

Mordecai (Pointing) That is the matter. 

Benj. A proclamation? 

Reuben A new decree? 

Mordecai Ayo • A proclamation, a new decree. 

Reuben U'hen was it posted there? 



4. 



Ivlordeoai Last night. 

Benj. What is its purport? 

Mordecai Death to you and roe and all of us. 

Benj . Death? 

Reuben To all of us? 

Mordecai Aye. The Fing and Harnan have decreed tlint we shall all 
he Villed, destroyed and rooted out. 

Simeon The -^inp: and Haman. 

Abim. Read the proclamation. I"hat does it say? 

Reuben (Going- up to it) >"'rom me, Fing Ahasueras, to all who 

live in the land, peace be niultijlied. I inaJ'e tnown to 
you that Hanan, son of Ha:".edata, has informed me con- 
cerninp- the Jews a/id their hlarnevorth^ laws and affairs. 
After trii'.ture deliberation, I hove g:iven these i>eople 
to him to be slaughtered. 

All Foe. Woe. Woe. 

Simeon (Reads) He that understands to ?iandle the bow, let him 
use the bow and he that cf^a fight with the y.ord, let 
him seize the sv.ord and go your out and overpover them 
on the thirteenth day of the month that is called Adar. 

All Woe. 7oe . "foe. 

Abirn. (Reads) Do not spare either their princes, their rulers, 

their g:reat men or even their little children, but 
kill them and spoil tiieir foods. 

A v/oman Kven the little children. 

Asher ir^eace. 

Jacob Let us hear it all. 

Abim. Aye. All. 

Reuben In witness vhereox is set the Fing's seal. Th^'t is all. 

All Woe. V,'oe. Woe. 

Benj. The whole people of Israel to be v/iped out. 

Simeon Twenty-four hours of slaughter. 

Abraham There is no escape. 

Abim. The streets will ri>n is/ith blocd . 

Jacob The land will run with blot.d. 



5. 

Reuben All this has come uron us because of you, ivlordeoal, 

son of Benjamin. Had ^ou ] nenlad to Haman li>G the 
rest he would h^we taleu no more hood of us thaii he took 
before. 

Ben J. Revile not Iiordecai. He acted as his conBoieiioe 

taught * 

Reuben Talk not to me. You are old and I am young. Your 

life's behind ;;ou and mijie is all in front. I have a 
young wife, a little child. Shall I stand b^' and see 
thei'i billed before ni;- eyed or oe j'illed in front of 
them? 

All Woe . Woe . '^oe . 

Simeon Jehovah has for;^otten his people. 

ii'ordecai Jeiiovaii nover forg-fcs his people. 

Simeon Your faith is strong, but what is faith against the 
strenrrth of thafi* (x^oints to tha proclamation) 

Llordecai It is t'le f^trenp-th of God df^ainst the strength of man. 

Reuben Ood is in His Heaven, and that is here on oarth. It 

is the strength of tiie Je"s againijt the strenpcth of all 
the people In tjie hundred and t-se.ity-aeven jirovinces 
that raa> e up the Empire of Ahasuerua. It is the lily 
against the oak. 

iiordecai Have you not seen the lily bend before the :3torni which 
has rooted up the oalr? 

Issachar {Vl\o has been standing looling at the proclamation comes 
downi It is not until the thirteenth of Adar. Let us 
flee. 

Abim. Whither shall we ilee? e are i;^prlsoned. The v/hole 

Kmpire is our prison. 

Abraham What shall we do? 

Simeon We are like sheep without a sheihero, lile a shi, with- 

out a pilot . 

Abraham Oh, that we had a F'ing as in tiie diys of old. 

Issachar Oh, thf.t we nad a Proj.het who could pra;;' for us. 

Benj. We h«ve no x'rophet, bnt we have iiordecai. ?ell us what 

we shall do. 

kordecai What says the Law? - "vjheii thou art in tribulation, 
turn to ttie ^ord, thy God." Go to the Synagogue. 
Fetch the Sefer Torali and let us open it and' read it 
where it opens. (To, Aaron, son of Aaron, of the 
priestley tribe. It is ^/our office. :-etch the .ioly 
Law. 5o with him, son of Levi. 



Benj. Aiid you, Jacob of the Tribe of Dan, p'O too. 

Asher jirxi I will qo vrith iiim. 

Zippion And I . 

Waphtali /uid I. 

Isaac And T, thr.t I may help to bring; the Holy Law with 

honor to this place. 

All . Woe . Woe . '''oe . 

Mordecai Jehovah has turned back the hands of time. The palace 
gates of Shush.aii have becone the weepirir 'rail of Jerus- 
alem. As at the waters of ~abylon, there sit we down 
and weep. 

All Woe. Woe. Woe. 

Benj . '"ine fills the cups of ?<?r3ia, tears fill oars. 

Simeon (Cones to i'Drciecal) Thin! you thnt when vjq open the 
law, Jeiiovan will vcucnsafe a message to his people? 

Abraham Why should Jehovah vouoasafe a neissage noT?*? If He 

protected us, .la would hr,ve prevented that decree from 
being sealed . 

iiordecai Who are you to say what Jehovah will do and whnt He will 
not? Between now and the thlrteench of Adar are many 
months . 

Reuben Let as tear down the proclaxfiation. 

Mordecai If to tear it dov.r. could prevent that edict being carried 
out, I v/ould have torn it down the instaiit ifc '.r-as put up. 

Reuben Still I'll tear it down. 

Mordecai What shall it profit us? That decree has gone forth 
to every province in the land. I saw tho messengers 
stprt forth while you slept in the night. 

All Woe • Woe . Woe . 

( Fne singing of those who v^ent to ft^tcb tho Scroll of 
the Law is heard off. The men all lool- in its direction) 

Mordecai T.ae iloly Law'. 

Benj. Aaron and the others with the Sepher. 

Abim. Lot us go f-nd I'oet tJier/i. ( Taey move off towards the 

sicl?) 



Simeon 



If Jehovah would vouchsafe a messBpe. 



7. 



Alsraham A .iiesse^ve'. Jehovah tal' s not with Hia people in these 
daje. This is Shushaii not Mount koriah and v/e have no 
iioses now. 

I^euhen (Scathingly) I-Io; only a Mordecai. 

Mordecai Aye, only a ilordecai - hut Jehovah can speal^ through 
the lov/liest of the low if it he His will. 7/e shall 
see. Thoy cone I 

(ErWEn AAHOI' and the OTttBI^ JI'WS) 

Aaron (Bears the Scroll of the Law. It. is covered with a 

magnificent m'/«title of 3il> , enhroiderod in gold, and is 

surmounted by p. pair of roldon "balls" which tingle 
as he moves ) 

Mordecai (Ooos to the Scroll, taVes Uj; tho sill'on covering in 

the riij/it hand and kisses it reverently. So do Benja- 
niiii a^id the otliers, except Abraham) The Sapher is 
decked for joy not for sorrow; for rejoicing not for 
lamentation. Thke off its golden "hells;" take off 
its sil'en rohos as if it were the ninth of Ah. Cover 
it with sackcloth mid sprinkle ashes on it that it may 
r.ourn v'ith us • 

(Benjjwiin and Isaac advance and take off the golden 
''hella." ulroeoa rer-ioves the covering. Zippion brings 
a piece of sac' cloth) 

iiOrdocai ?.end it, that it3 ,^:arnients Tiay he rent, oven as ours in 
the dnyf; of iviourning. (They cut the sackcloth and 
tear it and «over the Scroll. Then Mordecai picks up 
so!Txe ashes frop. the ground and poars it upon the Scroll) 

All 'Voe. V/oe . '.oe. 

Lanj. ^pen the Sephor. 

Asher What will the message be? 

Abraham 7/ho says there'll be a massage? 

ivxordeoai Peace. 

Benj . Open the Sepher. 

Isaac iTfio shall open it? 

Ben j . Who but I'ordecai. V'hose faith not even JIanan's v'rath 

can sliake • 

Sever'il ^-^c:.x the Scroll, iuordeoai. 

Asher 2ead the aoasage of the Lord. 

i..ordeciai x'eople of Israel, Beloved and Precious to God, pray 

v/ith me thfit Jehovf.h jaay vouchsafe a message to us in 
the hour of our affliction. 



d. 
All Amen Vay Ar/iQiil 

(While Kordrtcal apeala, Beiijojii/i and Isaac advance, ta>-e 
off the robe from the Scroll and Zippion undoes the 
wrap.Mir wlil.c)i hindB the two halves toj:ether) 

iviordecMi (Xal'-ea tjie two handles and opens tho Scroll wide. He 

raises the Scroll abova iu.s head. He tarns roand for a 
inoiiieat to eao]i of the four poinbs of tiie compass so 
that all tne people about him may see tho vriting) 
This is tiie Law which the 'i.ord toy God pave to thy 
fathers by the iin.nd of ^Loses, the faithful of His 
house, (He brin>;a tne Scroll down and men hold it on 
each side, otili holdinitj t'-.e ha/.dles, Mordecd fixes 
his eyes bo Heaven) Thou God of Abraham, of laaao aiid 
of Jacob, vouchsafe a inossago toichy people, (he puts 
his hand down on the Scroll ) 

Benj. Read the word, Mordocai. 

All 'A'hat is th-3 word? 

iaordecai (.^oadixig) The Lord tiiy God ia a .-lercixul Ood. He 

will not forsaVe thee; neither destroy tjiee nor forget 
the Oov^^nant of thy fathers vrtiich he cv-vear unto them. 

Isaac ( Ovftrjoyfid) -^-wi. h*?-!"? He will not forsake us nor 

destroy us . 

Officer (Off) V/ay for Hainan I V-ay for Ilaraan'. 

rersians (Off) Haniiinl HamanI Hall to Hamajil 3oii of Kajf.edatal 

Abrahaui ne will not foraa>e as nor destroy us* And on the '.'vor-d 
cornea Hainan to disprove it. 

iviordecai Hainan oomos, but vi^ho says tliat he disproves the v/ordl 

Heuben Haman disproves Ic. (r'oints to the procleti;iHtion) Triat 

disproves it. The thirteenth of Adar disproves it. 

All V.'oe . "lOQ , Joe . 

^'ersians (Off, but a little nearer) Hail to Haman, son of 
Hairedata'. 

All ^00. v/oe. '.'oe. 

Benj. (To i,ordecai) i.stner is t^ueen. *..«xiyu vnuu no u ' et Jier 

to go in and iiitorcedo v/ith the King that he may coun- 
ternand the edict? 

iAOrdecai i hi-ve seen j'.sthor. ijut a little while -j^u I S|ioks 

with her. L: thro^ days she will go to the King and in- 
•corcede with hlri. Till thtjSG three days &.re ]:>assod, 
jhe fasts froiu fooo and drink and she bids us all main- 
tain an equtxL soler.n fa«t v ith her. 

Sine on rJiree ciays? 



Mordecai Three days and nights; from food and drin^; that we 
may inal-a intercession to the Lord. T?ill you Veep 
the fast of Esther? 

All Aj'^e . V.'e will leap the fast of Esther. 

Officer (off) Way for Harnanl Way for tlie Shadow of the ring I 

Persians (Off) Long live Ha'r.ani Long live the Sn^dovv oi" the 
King'. 

Keuhen Hail to Harnani ,i.ail to the Shadov/ of the I-'iagl 

( Jews "begi/i to kneel ) 

Issachar (To kordeeai) jlneol \'it.i u..i, . urdecai, Ineel. It 
inay allay his vi-rath. 

ivlordecai (^^oints to the proclamation) dP has done his v7orst. 
Vh'i^t 'no re oan he do? 

Abraham de nay vithdraw tne decroa . 

i,.ordeeai The docroos of the jeeraiand never are '/'itharawn. 

(.iill-EH 0?i^IOJH) 
If floor 'Jay for lla-^ianl ?.'ay for the Shadow of the Kin^rl 

( ]'^Itfi;R IUulI\N • S PEOOESSI ON ) 

All Hail to Har-iani Hail Shadow of the King'. 

Mordecai Hail to Jehovah', riail to the God of Israel'. 

Haman 3o you s', i;ill a l":i.-i'l in x-iy presr^ncc, Dop- of a Jew. 

Wait until the thirteenth of Adar. The stars have 
yielded you and all your people to my /landa, for in 
that month jour prophet j/ioses died. 

Uordecai I'our stars deceived you, Hainan, son of Hamedata, for 
in that nonth was .'osoa horn. 

Haman What matters birtn or death? Adar staiids beneath the 

fishe!:3 and in tViat; month you and your peojle are cau^'ht 
by my hands lile the fish ox tne sea. 

x..ordecai Ti>8 the fish of the sea they shall multiply among men 
upr.n the earth. That \\a3 the v. ord Jenovah spal e unto 
Israel in the days of iharoah, 7ing of hgypt. Shall \i& 
uasay those word a in the days of Ahasuerus, King of 
fersia? 

jiaman ,vait until Adar and see. 

Liordecai (iye . Wait u/itil Adar and see. 

Haman 'You would not bend the T nee . '2heii shall you die, for I 

will hang you on a gallows. 



1 : . 

Mordecai (Kxaltodly) VA'cin oji the f^allovTs ny }-nees 7.'ill still be 
strnifjjht beforo the eyes of Haman. 

Haman On/ (He turns bo Moraeeai. Vindictively and fiercely) 

Before tho thirtee/it}i of Adarl 

All Hall to Hninanl dail to Hamanl Sh;»dow of the Zing;'. 

Hall to Hajianl 

All (Jews pio> ixrt t)ie ashos from the ground and .put it on 

th:»ir lieacTs and x^nd thoi-r p:arr'ient3 ) 7oe . 7oe . "-'oe. 

Mordecai (''xaltedly) ^io vi/ill not leave tlioe nor forsnTe tliee, 
neither destroy t/iee iior forfeit t/?.cj Covenant of thy 
fnti'iert^ which da s. ear oiato tiiem. 



cut; TAIN. 



The Kln>'8 Bed chamber as in Act 2. Scene 3, 
Vashti's I'ortrait h-^.s heon taVen dov/n and Fsthor's 
hnag in its place. 

A'''i'^.suerus is I'iiscovered lying on the bed. 

The Ohamherlnln is in attendance. 3y the side of the 
bed stands a slave with a larj^e decorated palm leaf 
far; fanning: AKnau3Ti:.B» A-hasnerns turns restlessly in 
bed, breathes heavily and wearily. 

A h-\rpi8t fiits no^jr the Kinp:'s bed and j I.a3rs. 



Ahasu. Hn-h-h-hl £ cannot sleep. Give mo a drink, .dow rannj 
hours have I lain and tossed upon the bed? 

Chamb. (roarin;^ out water) i-'lve hours f.nd more, my Liego. 

(He brings the £;t^''^l^t O''' ^i golden salVi^r to the Zing) 

Ahasu. (Rising) .Vhat is thiij drink? 

Chamb. It is the v"ator of Goaspos River, 3ire, that is re- 
s.^rvGd for the ^tnp; alone. 

Ahasu. ( I'^.o has been drln>ing:) It is i.ost cool and pleasant. 
(jat3 t'le ^obl.^t on the valvar. '-earily) ■'^'a, if I 
could sDx'Op. 

Chavib. If the • ing ^ould lie qniotly on his ccuch, sleep 
mip;ht eo'ne. 

Ahasu. ?o; sleep is a flyirig: bntterfly. It is most fair to 
Iooj- upon, but w)ien I trjj- to p;raRp it, it eludes it>g. 
Give ue lay robe and shoes. I wi]i lie no lo/ip;er. 

Cloar.fo . ( :3 tn X ugly ) l-'.y ", i e g o - 

Ahasu. Heard j^ou what I said? .iy robe and shoes. 

Cha;r;b. f :-;i:ttonin!j up the rohe) Shall I not samrion your Maj- 
esty's physician to mingle a potion that will make 
you sleeplj* 

Ahaau. Wo. Sleep is distant from my eyes as if I had slept 

fcr hoars. (To .-larpist) Cease playing. (To Cha/'.ber- 
lain) '^ive me my shoes. 

Chamb. (kneels and pats on shoes) 

Ahasu. (To .'^axi bearer ) Cease fanning. I will rise and ;yallc. 
'J!h3 -'.ir V7iil cool my fevered brov;. die walks up and 
down the room) Oh. (He aits on the side of the bed) 
Why did I not invite the Que?n to visit ne to-night? 
Sh? always soothes :r,& , She ini.3:at have bronp-ht me jew- 
elled sleep within her lily hands. 



a. 



ChjU'ib . Shall tho '^uooa be siu/iifionad now unto t)ie Fi>-;g? 

Ahasu. IIo, Iv^t h.-;r alsop. j.von though Ahnsuernn cnnnot 

rest, she ahall not bo distarbed. (He risen) "'hat 
in tlis nltjht? 

Chamb. ('Joes to the v/indow and draws curtain) Tho davvii ia 

poarliiig in tlie Jiiaat, my Llogo. If t;he King would 
try to rest - 

Ahaau. .?Io . I ttajinot rest. The day Lb fu'ioat hore . SoiTir-'ion 

ttii? rof.LdGr. I '.vould have hin read . 

Chamb, ('^-oer. to door) Ti.s YSn^ would hrvo you refid. 

Scribe { ylf) L aerve the '-^ing. 

Chnr/ib. V'hat shall ho road, Tiy "iege? The poe.'.'.a of Abu Pharaon? 

Ahasu. 1)0. 

Chainb . The stories of rUrdussi? 

Ahasu. ¥.0 , 

Scribe What s^. -11 I read, rn^r T.io{;e? 

Ahasu. liij Chronicles. 

Scribe ('faking- his place by the Chrnnicles on th*? tnble ) 

Which Chronicle, iiiy r.ie^e? 

Ahasu. Wo natter which, 'ipen one at har;.Hrd ?md rend the 

words 1^0 a :Cind. 

Scrioo ( •■"'pens the bco> ) 

Ahasu. Stay. (C^oeg to him) I will choose tne volune . ( ie 

opens it) Head hero vh?re I nevo placed my finger. 
Thf't is the -f-ord? 

Scribe (Ho reads) "And Zither shoTred tlie 7inp- a letter from 

I'iordecai which revealed that Bi'^'-tan and Teresh, t.vo 
'Officers of the l^'ing, had conspired to 'ill the King 
by putting; Jioison into )xis \iine. At the instiant she 
r.i0>-9, the t7,'0 "'ffioers presented the poisoned --vine 
to Ahasuerus. He would "as-VQ drun' it and been Mlled, 
but T-sther held bis hand and prevented it. By the 
King's coriiniand, Teresh axid Bigtan were made to drini-^ 
the wine and died instead of him. And by his I.jajest.v's 
C(:'.".arid the nar\e of iordecai has been vrritten in this 
boo] that the Ylnr may rerner-iber th^t it vaa iiorfiecai 
T7ho saved his life. 

Ahasu. ■ h. t honor and r'ir-nity hath been done to I.ordeeai for 

this? 



3. 



Scril:)e 
Ahasu. 

Chamb . 

Ahasu. 
Chamb . 
Voice Off 
Haman 
Ohaml) . 

Ahr<.su. 

H^.raan 

Ahasu. 

Unman 

Ahasu. 

Haman 



Ahasu. 

Haaan 

Ahasu. 

ii*unan 

Ahasu. 
Haman 



i'fvit]iinf» hat> "bopu done, my ''';iH?:e. 

IJothia.f- for the "ian who saved my liJe? '.Vho is in the 
outer court? 

( 'roiag to the door and (Ji'eiu.a ;, it; j ri^ict; n-v nn Bi'vnda 
witiiout In the Court, my Hepe. 

Tot him come in. 

The ying oallg for rinee Haman. 

The I'ing- o-ulls for x'rinos na)':an. 

iOJlx) I atte:'Ui the Ving. 

I Opens tno door; 

[Bo'^Xii.p;] Before tjie i^olden fnce of Ah'?.suerus, Haman 
sprsads his handfi. 

V/hat shall be doiie ajito tiie i?.a;j ;uj: i the Kinfj desires 
to honor? 

( AvTide ) To whom should the King dolight to do honor 
Kore thuii to my^olf? 

Thoix do:t niit nji;^v;er. 

I vvr.s thinl'ing, 3ire. 



Tell me rhat shall be dons untc 
desires to honor? 



-fc; tnan whom t?ie Kxng 



?or the )T;an whom the Y.lng desires to honor, lot the 
ro.val apparel be brou^-ht wliich the King useth to vear 
and the horse that the i'lng rideth upon and the Crown 
]^o;;7 a which is set uj^on hiB heud; gjid let tais appL'.rel 
and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the Finn's 
moat noble princes that the^ may nrrfrj tie nan ajad. 
brln^j him on horsebPc> through the streeta of the city 
a.7d prrclairr. before him, "Thus shall it be ^^one to the 
man whom the Fing delighteth to honor." 

(?-azing intentl,7 on Rar.an / iilTaJ-e haate and ta^-^e the 
apparel and the horse. Do even as thou gayest to iior- 
docai. 

Sh idow of (^o5 , there are inany Fordecais in Shushan, 
to which one should I go? 

Go to i ordecai» the Jew, who sits at the King's gfite. 

ki' lord Fii.g, there are man^' p-ates and I l-nov; not of 
vThich .?:ate thou speaVest. 

Tho gate which leads iron, the haren to the i'alace. 

Ay wiege, this ilordecai is my enemy; the enemy of my 



4. 

fttthera, I would rnthftr ?ive him ten thouaaml tal- 
ents of silver tlvm let this honor ho done unto hlrn« 

Ahasu. f^ivo hin the ten thonaancl tnlonte of silver nna still 

thia honor ahnll not bo with-held fror^i hin. 

Haman I hnve ton sons, m^- T,iep;e, let then bo 8l?^vea unto the 

7im% but let not this honor bo done nnto hir; . 

Ahasu* T.ven thoufr;h thou and. thy sons and thj' wife shfxll all 

bo slaves to A!ia;3iieraa, 3tili this honor shall not be 
wita-hald X'ro;'i him « 

Harnan A:,y '.io.^o, he is a oor;.r.*on if<an. ...".aoo him ovor a prov- 

ince, oven over a -fiii' doi'i, bat l;it not thia honor bo 
done i.nto hirn« 

Ahasu. 'U-tiiouf^ii ho b«^ .i comiaon mail, .[ v. Ill place him ovor prov- 

*inco8 nnd liny'dor.s ar^.3 still this honor sli^^ll not be 
wlta-held froivi hin« 

It". .Rji ,y fano aud th;j' fai'io «ro sprcvid over t)io country • T,ot 

tlvjr' f*^!'.e and his be aj>read vhII ov^r tho world. Only 
Ivit Jiot tiiia h.onor ho dono to hi... 

AhasM. . o-^aooi'i saved mo from death, .ub fame aliall be spread 

all over the vorld ano. still this honor a}iall not b(? 
with-hoid from him. 

H'.MT.an ;:esaej>frers wll;h letters soal^d - Ith the ing's seal 

hnve airoa;'d "boc^n soat out to •11 the ]>rovi:ic.ia of the 
Vilify to dustroy the poofle of • orusoai. '': -ll then 
tills honor be doae to him? 

.■)ia8u. r will r«o?'.n. the !n0S3'(> v^r-;. r ill unseal the let- 

tors, Lilt Htill this ' all act be v itji-held from 

hirr,. 

ditiin >;' Lie«p:«. 

Ahas'i. VpeaT'- no r.ore. (I'c oh.a'. borlain i 5id then fetch hither 

tho roj'Ml robes of purple and fl'io sill' and the pjolden 
orov,ji whicsh the;' }ilaood u. o.vi mv hoad thr? d.r.y they iriide 
rue r.ing and ordor the royal horse I rode on my Corona- 
tion T>H;; to be Sa(!{-l»=»U .:>r t-Wa ■;" • whOin I'-'n -'iiin- (l.o- 

licrlitoth to honor. 
Ohamb. (Salutes the King i Ahasueri's is f^beyed . 

(EXIT :) 

O'dsu. ( i.'i;'.rna to 'j-isim) ^'hua ahaU. it bo done unto the man 

WilOrr. the • in.^ O.i^li 'hto..;i to hen: ■.?■'. 



Chai'.b. ( Salute?} the Tin;^ 

outt»r eon.rt . 



(•»«(, s i. ■ ,.v .q i t> t. .-.,•> 



has u . 



'.ot t}ie ::;itoan enter. 



(ENT]:H ESTHER) 



Esther (She is dressed in royal apparel, in fine sill- e/nbroid- 

ered with diamonds and pearls. A f^olde/i crov/n upon 
her liead and i[^olden shoes upon her feet. She mates a 
low obeisance to the King) 

Ahasu. Davm of the noriiing. Thou hast awaVened rith tiio oay. 

Esther I could not sleep, my Liege, k.y spirit is disquieted 

within nie . 

Ahasa. As mine has been *^.ll night. I could not sloep. Thou 

art cone u.'ibiddon to ii^i prescnco. 

(iieii tiro on guard nt eaoh door rad at the baoV of the 
stage. Two of the guards advance toward Tether with 
their aix^ars an if to Jnill hor : 

Ahasu. f^aiyes his hand) Hold. The Queen may come and go 

ttJibiic-en iu mi" /reaence. There is no fear froKi her. 
(He holds out Iii;.j acejtro. Latho-r api-roachoa and 
toaoiies the sceptro) 

Ahasu. Thou haat touched my soepbre. Thou hast a petition. 

•.hyt wilt thou, .iueeji Esther? 

Esther (Trembling with the effects of the fast) 

Ahasu. .'iiou'rt palo and treribling. Thoii'rt ill. 

lythar l\'o, .Siro, not ill, but ^oy^"^'' that thy golcleix ha/ids 

strtatched oat the foldeii aooptro to rae 3.id saved my 
life. 

Ah.isu. 3nnll I Icrget that thou didst sav9 mine"^ 0;ily e. little 

v/Jiile a-nd the ling's menory read ^rom the Chronicles 
h07/ thou iidat save r.7 life, and nlmct on the reading 
tnou didst coioe. jhat is chj ret;ceat? It ^<hall be 
given thacj even to the half of ir.y Kingdoi/i. 

Esther If it please the Xiiig, let the King and Haman corr,e 

taia day luito t?ie Ban.niet I ahnj. 1 prepare for them. 

Ahaau. It shall be as thou sayast. Doet hear, Li?rnflji, son of 

Hamed ta, ixow the Queen delights uo honor tiiee? 

Haman Unto the golden face of r-stlior, i raise .ny eyes that 

she may read in th.^i i';y gratitude for the honor she 
hae d one mo . 

(;..;rEn 'H::^ C:i : Ji::^'^AIJ'T) 

Chamb . (Salutes the King) 

,4 has a. ..poal^. 

Chamb. 'lue Vcf.^jers ox the royal ap. arel stand without. 



Ahnsu* 

Cha-;il) • 



Aliftsu • 



dajnan 



Jill than nntor* 
(l>x(i^ to tltoin? 

f \: a rich, oiishlon ono onrrloa th»> crown. .VnothP'r 
onrrina i;hc robfl of v?hit« ovor. his nrii: r thlr 
roVjo of pp.rjilo; a Tonrth th«» roynl «word ) 

;, ^p.T-p 'riaoto. ?aVe th»»o men with tiioo with tho 
ro^'fti rohoq f^-d oro'^n, tho roj'-aJ xorae, h3 Vt->11, ;';!r 
noo'- r.i-t . '-/rr -konj. , p;«i;.i not to 0'. h11. tii't .[ cor.. <.-^- 
<^6 thfiO » 



lO^o , 



Aiiaou, 



Chanb. 



Alinrtll. 



vT '' .at'.;/* t:. 

lll'O with the 

.'..-iii: rtst nil withdr.iw. 



{Si/ 



■i3 t}iiO . 



to the rttt«n('M./itfl 



f.i'j.ldn oift i:l3 ii^ind to - 3ti*er ^.is* ieada ner to the 
couchJ Th" oo" I-!'* f!..5j y.,.>,|vf».^ ,- apirlttj. Sit bj,' inj' 
;; lay i 4.'evt»rrtcl b.cow# Tlii' 

v'.'i nM3 . , . ■;:':« 'twill ,-,e,''0 me 



r, if- 



ACT 3. SC.iffi 4, 

The falaco Oatea as bel'ora. 

On one side of the stage a high gallows is heirig 
erected . 

iiuordecai pnd tha Jev"s are all discoverod. 

Some of the Jews are sitting in attitudes of deep de- 
jection. One or two are looking at the decree and vi,ring- 
ing their hands. I^lost of them are watching the erection 
of the gallows, the two high ]ioles of which are already 
in position ar.d the cross beam is just fli Ishing being 
nailed by L;en standing on liigh ladders which lean against 
tiie uprights. 



Benj. ('Jho has ueeii va^jcai;.^ u-e or:?cuio.i witji xo-vorei' inter- 

est) It is aluo3t finished. 

Asher How grim and darl" it loo Is against the sl-y. 

Abraham LooJ: at the space bet^reon the poloa. It's liVe a gap- 
ing iriOD.th, hungry for Its prey. 

Jacob It Xeeds on ha"iaji ilveo. 

Benj. (Apprehensively) 'I'ho has been condemned to feed it? 

Issachar Uy v/hose oroer is it set vl^ hers? 

Abraha.Ti Ash them, Abi.-nclfcch, con of ;!".G-vi. 

Abim. You as>, if you rant to 1 nov;. 

Senbeia I'll asl^. /or whori do yoi; bnlld tne p-allov/s? 

Gallows 

i*iaker (Coming do^tn ladder) i'or a man. 

Benj . hat man? 

Gal. ilak. A Dog of a Jew. 

Reuben a Jew ordered yea to build it? 

Gal. iAa.y , I ViOPld not build a gallows .Cor >-: Jew. tnly to hang a 
Jov; on. 

Reuben li'j whoae order, liutn, do yon bi'.ild it? 

Gal. .u.ak. Dy ordar of .rrince Haijian v/ho s:;its at the Ki'ig's right 
haj^ul . 

Reuben .\uC. a Jew is going to be hanged on it? 

Gal. iVlak. yiya. So said' x'riuce ilaiian's cha/.berlain. ji Dog of a 
Jew who would not " lOol to Haman. 



£• 



Koubon 
'^oubon 

"^»^ben 



-;.-'.^ <"•:•■>.'% 
/•braham 

":eube,n 
J?»aob 



It 13 for yon, Konlpoai* liM.'^ari »Ald he would iro--' v-oij. 
on a prallows, and now t!i© fr^lowa le 8«t up* 

If It; be aod's will thf\t llH'nMi ohould )\fm^ n;e on tn© 
;r?illovv8, r ahall hat-.g. If it bo not "oa*« vin, r 
ahall not hang* Ood's will be c^ono. 

Are j'ou so pp.^«r to die? 

jVot oHger, '^oiiben, bat read; • A llttlo aoonor, a llttlo 
litter, we ^li muflt Ho* et ua ac iivo tit ii" It; be 
now, wa firo ready. 

f *: old, vftt £ .tijri not roiidy. ii^ la av.c»i.»t, and X 
von"!' ■; ivc t.;r. t)ie iitterr?:oet o''. ' f-^,n« 

"Vcivr rv-+ miwh^T'?"! , oy?'! ■ uhj''* ^•ro aunberod. 

Dio t'.ii'tooritii oi AdftrV XiiJi-u 1» t/ie li.'.it oi our d^ya. 
How bitter te the lot Khloh )H..r'.x; hae c^At o/i ae. 

■ -'' ''•r-u wii;i roj'Oiit tov-^^vviw n.^t: , i,( Oi: f;:.(» .of wni ■i^'^n. 
; T, infjtenc*. oi' t'l*?"'. 

(Cor.iiuT up to then} iiow con !:;« i.ot IVu} on HaPian? 
He la f^et in hiiP-n ^-laoea^ ~v.r drH.in lt4 £u>)'tv-t(5. 

V-r». v;i.t}i the V lap's ae*ii . 

, ,o oi* little i'Mith* 7hrt i'roo: 8 oi" ('od ';ro full 
o.j. vfv/c-ifv* /»<.vn tMni h&y.iitii urinl at them Had aro refr^iaiiod. 
O'Tt c3* the bln:i jjry oonioij » blani cloud no bifegor them 
a iiar.d • .Tt g-rowy, vt bj.(*ua out tite aun« Xt ovor- 
rji-reaiitj ti\»i Jiouvonji. '\hty r>*lii ^f-.CxG dc.v.i i;; lorroiitis. 
it, ovcrnows the brool-a. ?hej' brr^t into a floo<3 nnd 
ovo "•.»;•)') If. )»i-.f;. r>ru) (^.a brt.a.^t, . So it will be vvith 'a- nju 

Ko it will be with ««, o.-: tno v.ni .tdtir.tn of "djir. 

• ai jW» cat! -ftftVft U43« 

Cri'**? perfor;n6 r<.'> '■<\r.\ci'i^ii 1.) |.ho:!c- 'Mya* 



it j,?! t'n*C'U.'*ii ,"oj' 



'•lir* '.J >!'■.-, > . d o"i<''> 



-r'> to 



;^birn. 



Abrnhfu ; 



■■^■-fi v.o f-o'o if; vni'jj. ■,& vr-itten tii-t Mordooni, 
, r-»navid l:'o d«»trRotl-"M .- j iji© Jov/a. 



"iv\-v!o 



a;:a .n.frr; en. 



• M nOi^n 



!u'" >"• ;'rouT,3re'.-., r.m; ?.ov/, row, v;o ore to bo alaln* 



5. 



Eow we are to bo wined out as if v/e had never been 
and all bocj'use of you. 

Simeon Yea, you have destroyed as I 

Abim. ..ordecai, the Jew, jias destroyed the Jews. 

Several (Togother) Lordecai has destroyed us. 

Reuben If you iiad bent the ] nee to d&n nn all would still have 

bo en well -.Tith us. 

Jacob It Is well that riaman should build a gallows to hang 

you on. 

Reuben It is not Hainan who should hesip; i.ordecai . It is the 

Jev'3 who 3>iould haap; hira. 

Benj. How d.-.Lre ye tui'n again him? .-ire voa beccir.e li>e dogs 

that Lite the hand of lira that fed them? 

rJeuben Hr.d it not been for nip. this decree hnd never been 

proci aimed. 

Abraham Hai.nn v/ould hnve never te>en note of us. 

Voice Off liH]'e way for Eamanl i^iaJ e way for HamanI Son of Harried- 
ata'. 

P.euben Uijon the .si>ealinf; of his name, he comes. 

Issachar ?ei'ohai:co lie cornea to iiang you on the gallows. 

C!horus (iff) Kal'e wf'.y for Haman'. L'alre way for Hainan'. Long 

live llarenl "on{y live t/ic acn of iianedatal 

Sippion Siiout. Shout, "Long live Ean.anl" Shout louder than 
the Persians thr.t he may see that v/e yield allegiance 
to hin. ohout'. Way for Haruani 

Jews Long live HamanI Long live Haiuanl 

(ElTi"-. li/j a:,' fol].ov/ed by men 
in uniform) 

(one bears the King's robes over his outstretched arm. 
A second bewrr; t/ie purple robe. /. third bears the ■:volden 
crovm upon a cushion. The two otriers le? d in the horse 
v/jiic]i 13 richly' caparisc ned ) 

H.-^jnien V/here stands Ilordecai, Hie .'nw" 

iViOrdecai ( idvances) I fui, here. 

Hf-man The King }i«,s deli^/ored you into f..,y hands. 

All iiiay God have nerey on his soul. 

kordeeai What io the Klng'ti will lat'i me? 



4, 



E'Ufisn r. to destroy you, Imt to bsyo you* 

UoTdeor\i ?o Sftve rol 

.11 reaa f^est anrprlao) 



All 



} liiorti^aocl aurpriBO) Savo hlnJ .lonrr hlml 



(i.wrirtll 



•J*^'" XTori 



tV.oloUi «vnd nehoa, and pat on those 



rolsea tfliioh the /In^ hua c v. Arid.ea r;3 to brlngr 



i OT-i.TnAi '■>(■< ■ I- ! '.v.;; <ri..i.jt*> to ff.ool 

i ood «•.. 
- s.>r ir,y el. . , 
^.V',- !)'.'!. It Tor ■ 



lu Watt bt.t t;;'j? h. nr 



. 11)1 >cr .'■•■<>U j'iC ■; • 



'ou v;lll not ha -^ upon tb? fi;»llow'o I 






aHil;?;l 






Aii 



■Tli»*t aoass It Pl^^ .n; 
v^ha ■ or \ h'i or<' i^oO • 

.••oc, thr> royf^l crcn^r; , trie r 

vorr rt?'^t 'i-^m'., if. j' ^ i he ro: 

throAr;ht th<j r-itr'««tB oi :>iiu3'na«» 

( - xpr«aa <>« iaaeiiemi; ) 



^.l>r-'i«.ham -^ arvoi 1 ous I 

Ail (i uasiur iiioroHfeiad •i:fia30:n«jut / 

HsynftTi >» !,--/■ 'v;r .-.." riders. 



I ho rcl).'^ 
: Al av'or..!. 



rfl in 



euDor. 



f"''hn ^* 



■^ •'.■^•>» 



■rd ' 

ioraebaoy through tho 
11 tt 'b^ done onto 

honor. 



5« 

All Ills lumi vvhom the Xi/i^^ delijTrttoth to honor. 

Mordeoai A miracle; a .raracle. (i'lOiuits the horse} 

Benj. .' ord hath apo/ en.; y or "ecai 3 rial 1 nut hang. 

Abraham THe galloTrra shall be o/iefited of Its prey, 

Haman ( i'al'oa tuo bridle; atards at the horaoa iia-id) Tuaa 

siall it oe done luito the nan whom the ■''ing doiighteth 
to honor. ( Jle lenda the horH.-) onvjirda) 

Aa.l Thus 3h«ll it be dona unto the ra-m whom the Zinp; de- 

ii'^jiteth to honor. 



crr^'UAIN. 



A room in Haiian*0 hot38« »8 In AG'"' .J« . 

i>t>roro tno ourtftln Roet up, thoro Is howrd the eon- 
iuaed bnbei of the orowd In the dlBtmice, 



v/itu .:..u _iivi Oi tiic» i.4jLrLu.,o.it.-; ujkI o^-.iroij. 



.ta 



r^arshan. 

lieroah 

. 'Oirahan. 

iioreah 

:arahan« 

;;or«3h 

.:^v'' »hal 

iJoresh 

. nrshttn. 

:')hfti>ahal 

Zereah 

juarahan. 

.oroah 
Sharmhai 
^farahan « 
Crowd 

Seroah 
,-: arahn.'f . 



ivjton to TTJX' »iii.iuti2i{j. 
vnmt do thoy eay? 
I oannot he>^r• 

"•pan the vrlndow, tcipj; v;e aii/iij. uo->.r« 

(Opens the vlndow) iPhat n oroc'd . 

''"-irifr to tiie window f Tlie otroiit i;3 v:..ri;i,, >/ 
le. 



i.t'* 



{(rolnu to the wlMow) The^ are coning tlUa way. 

i^ow onn you )ienr whftt thoy are aaylng? 

I can/iot c?l8tln<Tt'.l8h the word.s for the ahoutlng* 

One man la rldl/ig on a horae. It la thie j^^lng'a horae. 

It la oaparlaonoct with the royal trni>plnp:a« 

X o«i; aoe It a rlv^or* He hfts the royHl orown upon iila 

It moat be . .-v-iJU'^niB. 

■to. It la not Ahftaaerus. ao mirt "< on vr- • . 

T.laten, I can hefir nov' v»h«'t they Hre a^.ying, 

(Off) ThiiB ahall It bo tlnn« unto the nan whofi ttio 
^'Inj"? ile'J I'^htoth to honor* 

7hnt nuat be HfMnfin, your father. There la no othor 
*- " ■' T would AellP'ljt to honor, iio la the fo 
'.n pQ.1 tho .l>i/!d ; - ho nlono h<\e Vho eo 

oj . a-'aiiOrua* 

'"■» '-'*■ '' ""* " ' '''\thO!p» L o?in Ho'^ X;>')''' oi''' -rxy 5K'W» 
lO {^ato of our iionae. ooV, n: - 

v'i'T .». ■■'.•''•a (;•;<» 'sur'ae* 



liat oar\ bo the nv 



•lOI . t-lO 



■iie 



2. 

Zeresh Th-t is your father's voice. 
Shamshai He hna left the procession. 

Parshan. He has entered the gate. 

Zeresh (Astonished and alarmed) His head is covered. 

Parshan. He loots lil-e one in mourning. 

Zeresh What can it mean? 

irarshan. What can hxve happened? 

(EJJTER HAiJAN) 

(He is sad and mournful and his head is covered) 

Zeresh Husband. 

Parshan. Father I 

Zeresh Wh^ dost thou loo^ so angry and so sad? Whiit has hef all- 
en thee? 

Haman Such misjffortune as neYer I could have dreamed. 

Zeresh Misfortune? 

Parshan. What? 

Hamsui As thou knowest I went to the King to aaV hiia to give 

me that Dop; of a Jew, Mordecai, that I might hang him 
on the gjillows. 

Zeresh Yes? 

parshan. Well? 

H^inian As I was ushered into the golden presence, Ahasuerus 

asked me, "What siiall be done to the man whom the King 
delighteth to honor?" In the instant the thought carne 
to me, "Who is there whom the King should delight to 
honor so much as me?" So I sf^ let him be ded'ed with 
the royal apparel and the royal crown and be put on 
the royal horse and let one of the King's most noble 
princes array him and bring him on horsebaoV tnrou?:h 
the streets of the city and proolairi. before him, "Thus 
shall it be done unto the man whom the Fing delinhteth 
to honor." 

Zeresh But it was thy voice which proolained those words. 

Haman (With burning indignation) Aye, it was my voice. 

\3 I spoVe, Ahasuern.s said, "Do it imto Mordooai." I 
pleaded, I entreat<ui , I besought him not to do this 
honor to the Jew. In vain. He sent for the royal ap- 
pj^rol and the royal crown, iie put them in my hands. 
He bade me execute his orders. You heard me proclaim 
his flory in the streets. Kvery time the peo...le 



3. 

shouted, "Long live Lordec.ail" I oursed hi.M in my 
heart . 

Crovrd (Off) Long live wordecail 

Haman Listenl You ooji Viear then shouting now. Curee hirni 
Curse him I 

Zereah Close the v;lndow. Shut out the shouting. 

Parshan. (Closes the window) 

Haman Oh, how I hate him. He blaokens all my lii'e, wijjos out 
its joy. Even the Queen's invitation to her banquet 
pleasures me nothing when I thin> of Mordecai. 

Zeresh Did the Queen invite ^hee to banquet v;ith her? 

Hainan Aye, to-day, wit}i Ahasuerus. Only Haman and Ahasuerus. 

Shouts OffThus shall it be done unto the man whom the King 
delighteth to honor. 

Hamaxi (Comes to Shamshai) Have you drawn the horoscope for 
this? 

Shai'ishal I have drawn the horo8CO}..e. 

Haman What say the stars? (Pause) Why are you silent? 
Speak. I'm not afraid to hear. 

Shamshai If t?iis Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews before 

whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not irevail 
against him, but shall surely fall before him. 

Haman I'll not believe it. Go. Get your instrwnents. 

Study the stars again to-night and draw another horos- 
cope. I shall not fall before him. 

Shamshai There is no mistake, but I will draw another horoscope. 

(EXIT SHAilSHAI) 



k^eresh What matter whether the horoscope be right or wrong. 
The stars take time to act. Defeat them now with 
swiftness, rrevail against Llordeoai to-day. Use the 
happy moment of Esther's banquet to asl' of the King the 
life of i'lordecai. 

Haman He would not give that life even to me . 

Zeresh Then do not ask, but taPe it. Breai into liis house 
when the night comes, drag him out and harig hiin on 
the gallows. 

Haman What will Ahasuerus say when he hears? 

Zeresh What will it i.atter what he says? Mordecai will he 

dead. Besides, who is to Inow that thou hast done it? 



4, 

e ovi ao nrraiu^o tiuvt tnoii wilt never «.'e aiiBioocjd. 

f'.rHaHn. It OBfi be done lu »'?orot« 

«oro8h i© not ■" i.- 

al;tmt • 



'^eryont ih9 Kins* a oiw'vnborloln etajuJa wltJioat. 
2eroah .Old Mm ooie in. 

(: 

Chanb* ?]i» .^uaen'a ba/iquet la lorapared. 

aw.nn I oo'>e» 



::eresh 






not A/lflTi' t:/* c5^ 



wu 1- ;j J. J v; • 



(SKillin!^) I ?rlll ren-iO.'ber. 

''ith the ^llo\?a thou oanat proT^il agaiiiat hlm» 7hon 
a * --'■ "■ ■ ' ' to firo, for >xia ''ra- 

it. Ttioa oanat ,r, 

it. Thoii onnet not 
!,/«.? wp.tor ^oaea ar-d iiia pm<-.lo ;t-j a vjo • 
not tfirow hii'i i;. n den of llona. Tor i'ror:. the 
- I'^l anved. 3ut frot?, the ^ ■• 

;3 iVMi bftijn bnilt was ev- 

i!i^ /lUij. "./vi, ftnd JfO with Joy to tnn r.-i.-irnor; ■ >o . :>?;1. 



riiou art 
Ita. 1, 
for hi a . 
:ueen. 



■ . " oroieer u£ " ' 

..a. £t 81 

.VI L ; ^<>; i..t> tiio bHnfjUGt o. 



lO 



(MIT UALJlIi 



ACT 4. scp-n: 2. 

A marble terrace with openings at the baol- at which 
hang silken curtains. The openinga give on to a land- 
scape of f?;ardens with the gjallows risinf^ f«;rirTi and dark 
in the distance. At a golden table decorated with 
lilies recline Ahasiieriis, isther and Hainan on golden 
couches. The King's chanberlain and the Queen's cha/n- 
berlaln stands behind their resjf^ective couches. There 
is a cha'nberlain behind liar.an's couch and various servants 
are in attendance. As the curtnin goes up, the servants 
repiove the golden plates and dishes aiid others place 
golden dishes and plates v;'ith fruits of various Mnds 
on the table . 



Esther (To Haman) You do not drinl- , my lord. (She raises gob- 

let) Let me fill your cup. (She pours wine into it) 

Haman ivly Queen, you do me too much honor. 

Ahasu. (To Ksther) And I'll fill thine. See how the red wine 

sparTles. Cone, let me pledfre thee. (He raises the 
goblet) 

Esther Way. I cannot drinl , my lord. 

Ahasu. Not drink with me? Wl-xj^? 

Esther The red v;lno ma>es me thinJ- of the blood of those who 

are to die in accordance v/ith the proclamation of the 
Zing. 

Ahasu. ThinV not of death, but of life; as I of thee, '."hat is 

the petition thou art to asT: me at th^' banquet? Ask 
and it shall be granted, even to the half of my kingdom. 

Esther Thin' not it is for ])laytaings, for dresses or for .'ew- 

els. My heart desires not such. It is filled with great- 
er issues, - issues of life and death, shame and destruc- 
tion. 



Ahasu. l^Hiut? 

Esther If thou didst thin]- that my petition would give thee 

pleasure, thou art mistal-'en; it will bring thee pain. 

Ahasu. lain or pleasure, what is thy request? It shall be 

performed even to the half of my >lngdom. 

Esther If I have found favor in thy sight, oh T^ing, and if it 

please the ^ing, lot ray life be given at my petition and 
my people at ray request. 

Ahasu. Thy life? Thy people. 

Esther Aye, ray T.iege, for we are sold - I an my people to be 
detstroyed, to be slain and to perish. If we had been 
sold for bond men and bond women I had held mv tonj?^® 



£. 



Ahasu* 

, sti'ior 
Ahaeu • 
hather 
Ahasu* 
athor 



rsthor 

Kathor 



Aha8a« 



Mio.au < 



iiivan 



but to he Villod - 

Wcio is he arid where la he, the audaolnua orinl;!al and 
rebel wTTo has done taia thing? 

Th« .'vdvoraarj' and enemy la h«re. 

In tiiiH roon. At tnitj i;"Jij.,o. it; ' .i-'-j 

iiarnan? 






Tluit dooroo? 



. <ifj it ia v/j to 

iftor.»e v;hloh 
>t: to I'-v :i oa ■ . > yrov- 

lor: of --.a. (3ho 

T^'iO ; rsci' -^-tlon OUT. ^ j. r :& boaor of hor 
.5 it to '\?ie9ijnrra) 



Aye« Si/jned with the 'inpr'a aeal rrlviru^ the Jewa to 
Haraan to be slaiighteraa • 

'"' • * v^ ■ : it t'mt hoi:.'!.-3v, 
• the weelth o£ mi 
rox'rei3o..T, i:.' re aa a profltloas :v;..!i-.h' vi^io ro u-.i!" ri,, 
obey the T'iii^rcion'a lawa? 



.;t 



It V9iaa tiie .*ewa, my rioge. In 8lau?Tht»rinp: v^fcori they 
would dratT 'i® oven rror'i the "inpr'a (kt^.b for i am of 
that poople. Yoa it waa mj' people /or whom he offerod 
the 7inR ten thouannd talonta of allver. (Volrtta her 
flii^er at hltaj 7).\Br9 ha aita at the "liig'a table, drinl 
Ing the "iiig'a wine, rod aa the lire Mood he would poar 
out* 

(^ialngi '^rnitorl Dare he plot to drn£: thee from v^' 
arioa nxid Till tliea and thy people I ( :ia IPaoe booor.e^j 
livid with rnjjo) '"larest thou do thia .'irtt3r nil £ .have 
(ioae for tiiee? 

(Hioirig) /^' Liege. 

Speal' not. i'y fur.-- biota I'ui. ^ w-m, . ■. (.-•... • i 
thlnV, X onm,. t bro?'.the. Air. Air. 

(HR v:XI7S throu<Th the bftoT into 
the garden; 

■ ' •■" '■■.*■ r-.Q, I've nevfr/' m- 

tied his tcn.mio; 

atruo' r.c dend . 

-'■^'-■^ no I Save , .'.;i .----v.' A.-. 
a rae. I a:i] rioh. I'll 

>a. r 



loo] lil?» 



id 



3« 



K ether 

HonBn 
Kathor 



Ahaa u . 
Ahasa . 

Xi&rrsan 

Ahaau. 



Shouta 
Off 

Ahnsii • 
Ghanib« 
Fsthor 
Ahaau. 

Esther 



Ahasu • 
i ather 



n.nvo Hie I L£ not for my aaVe, f-.r n;* rl.fn'n. ^hn In n 
ii), 11' e tjii^aeir. r>i'iVo ir,o and aio , 

,. !.t 0X1 theo, bo t>i»v al.<iVo» ?>'5.to ' j. 

wo th;: Blavea na "oil, (Ho v^eoa) 

_C^*il bo tli: al'^vo n& v/oll, - , ■ , I 

"a. :>'\r it. 'f not: for ru;" sa? o, x\>r iiiiiie * 
'xi , JohovHhj ahall do cood to tliea for th, ^.o 

wo. Have inal ynve n:ol Snvo PieV (He flij.f-a .liiiaeif 
f\t lier feet a/jd t>ircw8 hia nrrna nbcut her wniat 

(Outraged) Honovo thi' handa^ wurdorer ol" mj- r'Ooplo'. 
Tate tixy handa from me I 

(Cllning more fronally to hor) S«vo me\ Save no*. 

(rnVea hig wtlats 'a J trloa to tear hia 'm i hor 

aa if iifi -.voro a loMtiiesorie be.*i3t ' TaVe tii Troci 

me\ 2aVe th^^ - 

(: 

"hntv '111 you i.'or oo t.io uooii IjoXoro ne In the ^'alace? 

(;tart.i.iw^ avmi' fron r.athor and riaoa. Hlaaln^f^ tinder hie 
broath' Tlie ''infjl 

A.re you ao bold to plot to Till the .UPon ar'd would 
dftfjvme bar fir at? 

(i-'ltn^^a hii'iaelf at Alukauerua* feot ' Si>are rsel Spare 

Arreat hlnl 

(!?wo aerv ntP5 move I'orward to arroat him) Cover hia 
rrtoe* ' so) ;■.& is no loj].?'er vortii;/ to behold 

my oou, • de ahttll see tiie aun no moro* 



Lone liv« iiordooalJ .oop: live ^/ordeoall 

^hat ia that noiae? 

It la tJie proooasion or . orclooai tyiroi-f^h the atreet. 

/Z' wnolol 

Thy uncle? 



'^On ;i?> to Mil tiiUl £0T \fi\0:: h(i 

built 1 on* (Sho polnta to tiio 

i)arV and ori;.. aj^inst t>» alcy, gaunt and ij 
food* 



Hows 
r ita 



It will not h\xfe*ir long. I»ll feaet It with JIannn'a 
i le aii . 

-ith .iwiftnl 



4. 



Aiinstt. 



Ahasu* 
Guards 
Ahasu* 

Ahaau* 

Guard a 

Shout a 

Iff 

Chainb • 

liordeoal 

ahDuts 



"'O brlnp this iiordeoai to rie. 

( Ch&r;.b«rlalfi exita) 

i' Vo.KVK-v^ hj,;<aolf fropi tli© aorvants jimX rHiiga ijifoaeir 
3 'a Toet) !?hou wilt Aot iifung w* o^^ thi> Rftli- 

— -,'* ...,-. ..o r«ol 

(Soornfiilly) TaVe hir. ,^ 

(AdVttnoo to taToo Hainan) 

oum.-.on the ofrioera. 

J?para wei 

jUnd up hia mouth ao h© ojiru'of:; Si.i^'-'l- • 

Sparo rmeX fipax^ trial Spar© me I 



ong? live J ;ord,ecai I 
(•)rf) 
/Tho Ki/ijir call 8 incrdooal. 



(Off) I obey tin© :'i.ng. 



'orv'^ llvo . ori^ooail 

(.'■■.f live the " Iji^l 

■oao'; live tho riji^ and i-ior-decail 

} sther ""ho," al-ioiit tlielr rm:&6 to^^ethor. ily tincle n/d the Kijiff, 

Shouts 

Iff o.xt; live t>ie Kiiig: and . ordeoaiJ 

(ii^LR OH '.I 

•cl by IVPJ);:CAX) 

Mordeoai Unto AhaHuerns, tlie ' Inf;:, .,ftaoe» 

^ihaa a • App roach • 

Kathor i%y uiiole. (She poea to him mid cmbraoGa hif?i^ 

I'.ordeoal i j' child • 

Ahaaa* (To tlie ganrtlo) J oover hia face* Unbind his month « 

Ouarda (;■: oover H£w^*an*a face and unbind hl8 nouth 

liordoo Ji, aon of Bor.edote* 

.-imaa. *> uuilded a allows to hfir.^ theo on, but ho proparod 

it for hinaelf • 



6. 



Haifjan 
Ahnau* 

Ahflau. 
fiiaman 

Cha:,b, 
iiaman 

i ordooal 
Ahtaaa* 

sthor 

^ordeoni 

i.flthor 

Ahaaa* 
K8thor 

'.hnsa. 

i ether 
Ahaau • 



iio\ No I Spar© mo J 






i-ino©, li" I must dl«, behoad me, 
)id wltfi the Kiiic'a eword, but J^aiif: 



You hsye doXlled your i'rl/ioohood and ahalT h^i.^^ niuir) 
the p:allow8» TaVe hli,i away mid iianf^ him. 

(With oiitatretohod h«ii.Ia to the >'ing;) 3i>»tre wiol 
Sprtre no I 

f ;itioI/.>? t/u^ rliu:^ Oii hla riJigei', .... '.yoartj n^ ,•_ , 
.■ ' ; '. iHB doflled Ita oi'rioo* ThV** it off 



Vine) 



Virflrtfvi.f.^i ^ f t r. f:'if> 



Sparo rnei Spare me I Kp!".re rrjel 

(Thej' gag him and drag him off) 

.So P'^rlali all the onemles of tarnel. 

(To iordeoal) ^ani^ raoona a^o thou didst five rno tiila 
rliig: X wear. I/i return £ ^ivo thoo iMa •. o ,M:\ itt 
dojnlnlon over Hanan*8 houao. 

r'^ Me go* 

T,et ne put It on thv finfrer* Doat thou r< 

j\go I aald, 'Vftirojiftjtioe the Klng> rerie;:beri- ^, ..., r;-- . , 

will give thee another ring to taPre Ita place? 

I ror<orber« 

/ui«J no»f the ' Inc romoii.berlng ima f^lven thee aiiotho-r*. 

vinpiB imve better nettorlrta t)ian X thoii(^ht. 

(iie pointa the line at lather) iiy Kathor, art thou 
happy now? 

(Plliiicra hereeir at the "l."..r:»a foot - i. burattj i..-^. 
tearo I .i^^' lord, the; -^n to V , 

but the Mlaohlof he . j. not oou... 

(liolrlH out h.la aoejitre to her) Weep not awl do i..'. 
^ ■ -3, but rlee. '?hou art ray nueenl Ahatnterua 

('^laea aealated by i,ordecal) 
"ii'it would at thou'? ■^•pnAlr, 



It T)loi-«.3e the 

=>t It be rlt-i 



ona riFTht Vn^^oyo 
'Vorse the lotto ri 



Almaiu 



i.iordooai 



Ahasu* 



rather 
Ahasu. « 

j'ss'ther 






u at her 



in -.Yhloh he wrote to (3t>atri':' the Jov/a 
.. -. ,.,\. -.,. . ..^ Kiic*8 proTlnoea* i-'or how oa/i I en- 
dare to aoe the ovil t)jnt «hnll oor'TO unto rnj'^ people? 

It WR3 a Tnult of t)ioo, this evil oa-^ie upon th;- i^eo- 
pl«» i'fher. I naVed the^:^ fro.Ti what iiatlon thou art, t)iO\x 
SHidat, "I Tcnow not who roy iTatJier end tny mother >^re«" 

It Wi8 l\Y my direction. Sire, tJvit 3)te apcVo taas. 

• ti' . 'ther aiid her wvi i. y <i i<^u wI-iom »hr> -./-..i »> -m,';.i,-. 
■d it WRB I w •.'. her. Tn i 

■" ^roi,. we, I ; ii -f^re ',.., 

Jov en, the: ' ^r In the har>^ 

80 . .... .ior l-reep ly? . , .... jfc« 

:)eapi8e my Hteonl Beoause of her, they »h«ll >'"- ^r* her 
people tiiorouphout the lrlngdor?il 

Tho« wilt recall tJie decree of Uawan? 

My* Thnt I oan;.ot do. It la Hj':ainiit the laws of the 
:io«Slo3 ftjid r'eralAi.a. WrtRt ia 8epJ.ed with the Viagra seoj 
o«uii;ot be reonlled. the dioree ap-jiiimt the Jov/e must 
stfijid. 

Then X luid fUl n; rjoople niiEt he lllled. 

.Tay thou <vid all thjr people slial 1 be 8'*v.-.|i , 

i'^y "jlofje, 

(?urri8 to Kordeoai; "^ou wear n\ir rinp nv.r.. ,m v ; .-.r. 
"rite, aa it liVoth ^/ou, in the Klnf^'c it 

with the 'J:inf?:'« rlfif;; and aend it out V ... ^ "g 

that Iho Ji"*v7ii nav g:Ht}i"r taer :f3ivlvoa to.::ot)i»r , 

to 8lay iill n*io rise ^^f^ainst •!.".r»i n; ,t +.> f- ••,•. 
of them for a rtrey* 

It shall be done • 

.so do X aave ti^i'- life «ii'.d all thj' people in returi; .ror 
saving /nine. 

.y lord. 

ii;/ lioj^o. 

('lO s;ordooal I Thou art robed In the Fln^'a robea. 
Tto "ing'a orovM la o. thj' head. The vinpr*« avuQ. la on 
tiij' hnitfl. D-iou Hrt tiie i'lan whora X deil^rht to honor. 
Thou art m^' .nther'd s^eoond father. Thou ei»?0.t be mine 
as v/ell. 

Thou haat turiied m^' r.-ioar-! ., . ' ^on v.^is^t ; ' f-vn 

the aaol oioth from ine and clothed we in fJ. 



prlnc«s." 



7. 




Ahasu. Ho shall he seated v7ith priiiGGS. (To cha- -berlain) 

Suja"ion the IJobles. Bid ther-i hither. 

(EXIT CHAi.Br.RL A IN) 

We will raa^e a feast for Esther p^renter than any feast 
Shushap has ever seen. fFrom every province of the 
hu:idred and twenty and seven provinces, from India to) 
Fthiopia which naT e up the Kingdom of A.hasuerus shall 
come the j-rinces and governors, the lieutenants and 
the deptties to bend the >nee before her. 

Kather Mi's' Liege, you do me too much honor. 

Ahaau. How can I honor thee enough, TK'oman who queens it in my 

Hfe^ Many waters cannot quench my love neither can tl^e 
floods drown it.^ 

Mordeeai Throuf^hout the years tha,t are to be,, in every country 

where the Jev/s shall dv?ell the fourteenth of Adar shall 
be reme bered find Trept *'.s festival for the casting of 
the lot an.d for Ahasuerus who has turned it fror^ sorrow 
u-.to joy. 

Esther And where oar i'oople fasted for Esther, they shall i'east 

for Esther, and send portions to one another in rier.ory 
of ^Vhasuerus, the King. 

Ahasu. And of Estlier, Ahasuerus' Queen, and of ilordecai, her unc- 

le. 

(EITTER an OFFICER) 

Officer lly Liege, they have taTren han^an to the gallows. 

Esther (ShrinJ'ing) Bid them draw the curtains. 

Ahasa. Draw the curtains that the Queen's eyes may not see him 

?ianp,-ed. 

(Ei^TER CiL^IBKRLAIW) 
Chamb. The Princes of Persia. 

(EMEP. the JBEIHCES) 

Princes Hail to the King'. 

Ahaau. Greeting and healthl Here stands Mordecai the nan 

whom I delight to honor. Your voices, irinoes, and your 
Irnees. Hail Mordecai'. 

Princes (Tneeling) Hail I.iordecail Hail iiordecaii 

Mordecai (With uplifted ams. Kxaltedly) I praise thee, oh 
God, for my redemption. 

Princes Hail Alordecail Hail i...ordfc!cail 

CURTAIN. 



SuT'iT'iorrTJio Noblos. Bid thfaj^i hither. 

i;CXIT CHAi. BJCI^^AI:;) 

We will Riakd a foaat Tor rather gronter t ot 

Shuohan hH3 ovor aeen. ?rora every 7>roviiice uj. i, fi« 
hundred, arid twenty A;id sovon provi/ioos fror. India to 
'..thlopia wjilcii maVe up the 7ii'ig:doi. of ' mis ohnll 

oo'ie the .rincee and jProvernors, the li fee '"-.nd 

the deputies to berid the Vneo boforo hrr. 

father ;4y Liege, you do mo too much honor. 

Ahnaii, liow can I honor thee enough, woman v?ho ([ucjois ir, in i.y 

.life, idtmy watora <5fwnot itueiioh my lovo neither can the 
floaia drown it. 

.Awu ic.^'i -'or over, through iry;? ''-i:«Ht aa"! r i i«; v'ev.'.-? 'viiroi- ':;iout 

the world reme'-iber the fourteenth of Adfxr and I'oep it, 

not for .fnating and for oorrow, but for x ' 

for glndneas to the fflory nnd the praco o 

r.athor find where our people faeted for Father, they alinll feaat 
for Ksther, and send portions to one another in ruemory 
of A^haauerua, the • ing. 

Ahaau. And of .lather, IhBsuerua* ouoen, and Mordecai, her uiiolo . 

(KITMH an 0?FICKR) 

■>ffioer My J.lege, tliey haya taken Uarr.an to the gailov/a. 

Kather {^hrinMng) aid then draw the curtainfj. 

Ahasu. Draw the ourtai;;s that the .yueen's ej'eu rmy not aoe /lim 
hmiged • 

Chamb. Ohe j rincos of Porala. 

{ ;^ the r aX V^,l:.l 

rrlncea ii.Hil to the i-ingi 

Ahasu. Oreoting and health, iiero at net 9 . ordocai, the man 

who.". I delight to honor. Your Yoices, :frince3, and your 
Jcneea . Hail . .ordeoai '. 

irinoes ("neoling) nail iiordeoaii uaii .orciecail 

...ordecal (^?ith up^tifted arms. Ixaltedly) I priiae thee, oh 
:5od, for rcy redefiption. 



frlncoa ll-iii ^ orlecali Hail Mordeoail 



^^^wr^^^m^§!^mi^^^^^ 



'Oyi 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



018 392 188 5 



